Contempt motion vs. Yu brothers denied

Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 4 judge Rosabella Tormis denied assistant city prosecutor Mary Ann Castro's manifestation to cite the Yu brothers for contempt and to issue a warrant of arrest against them for their failure to attend the scheduled hearing yesterday.

Tormis said that would be too "harsh" and instead warned Jake and Nanak Yu to be present during the next hearing of the malicious mischief case or they would be "severely penalized" if they do it again. Castro filed the case against the Yu brothers after the alleged verbal abuse she got from them during their fight in 2004.

Jake was in Masbate yesterday while Nanak was busy with his work, said their lawyer.

Yesterday's hearing was supposed to be a venue for a possible reconciliation for both parties but turned out to be otherwise after the accused opposed to Castro's move for reconciliation saying it was "hollow as a dream and is not consistent with the character and personality of private complainant."

Castro earlier filed a motion to cancel the October 18 hearing and to set it for yesterday to "heed the call of peace" and "to attain the possibility for reconciliation at the earliest time possible to avoid any further animosity between the parties."

But the Yu brothers, in a motion prepared by their lawyer Vicente, found Castro's reason "hollow" and her insincere.

"After more than a year that they have been sued, and if private complainant is really sincere on her present application, it could be due to some other agenda known to accused but unhealthy for them," Fernandez said.

The conflict between Castro and the Yu brothers began on July 2004 when Castro blocked the driveway of the Yu's establishment which led to an argument, then a series of legal battles. - Liv G. Campo