Tony Labrusca (Photo from Instagram / @tony.labrusca)
Two criminal cases were filed against Tony Labrusca, who allegedly molested a woman twice and choked a man on the night of Jan. 16.
The victims formally filed the cases earlier today, June 4, before the Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati City, according to a release made public by businessman Drake Dustin Ibay and lawyer Regie Tongol.
Labrusca is facing two counts of aggravated acts of lasciviousness that he “committed while under the heavy influence of alcohol.”
The actor was accused of intentionally flicking the spaghetti straps of a woman, whose identity was withheld, “to expose her breast” and for “pulling her towards himself to sit her on his lap.”
Ibay, who was present on the said night, was witness to the incident, as stated in the release.
Labrusca is also facing a criminal complaint for aggravated slight physical injuries filed by Ibay’s brother, who was allegedly choked by Labrusca after he helped the actor down the stairs “for being too drunk that night.”
Tongol, who represents both complainants, also noted in a separate statement that Labrusca “had been seen by not less than four witnesses to (have) actively sought alcohol to embolden himself that is why the charges were aggravated by his intentional intoxication.”
“The night was very traumatic for my clients as it is their first time to be victimized like this especially unexpected from one of the most idolized actors of the country presently,” Tongol said. “Mr. Labrusca being a public figure and a foreigner must learn not to be abusive of women.”
“My clients hope that this case would encourage women and anyone who have been victims of abuses by public figures such as Mr. Labrusca whether sexual or otherwise to not be afraid to stand up and be heard,” the lawyer added.
The Office of the City Prosecutor of Makati is set to decide “whether an information will be filed in court against Labrusca,” according to the release.
Labrusca’s legal counsel, Atty. Joji Alonso, meanwhile, noted that their camp has just found out about the accusations and has yet to receive copies of the complaint-affidavits, disclosed ABS-CBN entertainment reporter MJ Felipe, who first broke the news on Twitter.
Due to the fact, they could not yet “give a judicious response nor comment on the matter,” the lawyer said. She also called on the public to “be mindful of casting judgement based on mere allegations and unfounded claims.”
Labrusca, meanwhile, has yet to publicly address the filing of the criminal cases as of this writing. /ra
RELATED STORIES:
6 ‘Bagong Umaga’ cast members are COVID-19 survivors, 15 others reportedly infected
Tony Labrusca on battle against COVID-19 during lock-in taping: ‘Nakakapraning siya’