Lawyers present proof of bigamy charges vs Gabby

Prosecution lawyers presented yesterday several documents they say prove the bigamy charges against actor Gabby Concepcion during the pre-trial yesterday.

Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Jansen Rodriguez set the continuation of the pre-trial on May 29.

Among the papers submitted were a marriage certificate dated June 19, 1984 for Concepcion and Jennifer Martin; another certificate, dated July 23,1984, between Concepcion and actress Sharon Cuneta; a document antedating Concepcion’s marriage to Cuneta from Sept. 23, 1984 to March 1984; and a decision of a Pasay court annulling Cuneta and Concepcion’s marriage.

Rodriguez has not yet ruled on a motion filed by Concepcion’s lawyer, who sought to have a hold departure order against his client lifted. The judge earlier granted the prosecution’s request for an HDO against Concepcion and increased the bail bond to P24,000.

Concepcion earlier paid P12,000 bail for his temporary liberty.

“The Court holds the issuance of a hold departure order against the accused is warranted, considering the accused has been at large for almost 12 years having fled to the United States in December 1995 and is now an American citizen, who as stated earlier may depart from the country at anytime he wishes,” said the court.

Concepcion arrived in the country on March 30 after leaving for the United States in 1995 or 1996. The next day, he posted bail in a falsification of public documents case filed against him before Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Judge Marlo Malagar, who set the pre-trial on June 5.

Concepcion’s lawyer, Ed Flaminiano, said his client was charged with falsification of public documents because of a supposedly antedated entry in his application for a marriage license in the Manila civil registry.

The actor has pleaded not guilty in both cases.    – Sandy Araneta