GMA 7 execs cleared of grave coercion charge

SARAH Lahbati

MANILA, Philippines—Saying that actress Sarah Lahbati had no proof she was threatened into signing a contract, the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the grave coercion charge she filed against seven officials and employees of TV network GMA 7, including its chair and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon.

First Assistant City Prosecutor Meynardo Bautista Jr. cleared Gozon, his daughter and GMA Network Films president Anna Teresa Gozon-Abrogar, Lahbati’s handler Michael Uycoco, GMA talent development and management department head Arsenio Baltazar III, Icons Celebrity Marketing (Icons) president Andrew Dee, the company’s talent management division head Shiela Buendia and Alberto Muñoz.

In a 10-page Oct. 22 resolution, Bautista set aside a previous resolution of investigating Prosecutor Edgar Navales who had recommended that the grave coercion charge against Abrogar, Uycoco and Muñoz be filed in court. Bautista said there was not enough evidence that the three had forced Lahbati to sign a comanagement contract with Icons.—Jeannette I. Andrade

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