Cristine Reyes seeks dismissal of Ara Mina’s libel, grave coercion raps

CRISTINE walks in on Ara’s home shoot for Inquirer in this file photo. They were very sweet at the time. Now they have no nice words to say to each other. PHOTO BY ERNIE U. SARMIENTO

MANILA, Philippines—Actress Cristine Reyes is seeking the dismissal of her older sister’s libel complaint against her, saying the sibling feud between her and actress Ara Mina is best resolved privately.

In an eight-page counter affidavit, Reyes (Cristine Pascual Klenk in real life) said she was trying her best to patch up with her sister, Hazel Pascual Reyes in real life.

According to the young actress, Ara Mina inspired her to pursue an acting career and that she owes her older sister a debt of gratitude.

“Thus it really hurts me and our family that the misunderstanding between me and my ate (elder sister) has reached this point,” Reyes said.

She submitted her affidavit Tuesday to assistant city prosecutor Gibson Araula, the one probing Ara Mina’s complaint for libel and grave coercion versus her younger sister.

The complaint stemmed from a dispute between the sisters over the remaining balance of payment for a house they bought for their mother.

Ara Mina alleged that her younger sister sent her text messages threatening to continue with her attacks if Ara Mina did not turn over her SUV as payment for her share of the balance.

In asking for the dismissal of the case, Reyes said the case should be junked for being premature as Ara Mina “did not exert earnest efforts to resolve the private dispute.”

“The complainant and I are at a predicament that is best addressed privately,” she said.

Reyes added that she could not have committed libel through text messaging, calling it a private form of communication, not intended for public view.

There is no law defining the supposed offense committed against Ara Mina, according to Reyes.

As to the allegation of grave coercion, Reyes said there was nothing in the alleged text messages that compelled Ara Mina to do anything against her will.

The next date for the preliminary investigation is on June 5.