Actress Ellen Adarna was a no-show once again during the second preliminary hearing for the cybercrime and child abuse rap filed against her on June 25.
The initial preliminary investigation of the lawsuits filed against Adarna was supposed to be on June 11. However, the actress was not able to make it and the next hearing was moved to a later date because she is expected to give birth anytime soon.
But according to an article published on PEP.ph, Adarna was not able to attend the rescheduled hearing again.
Atty. Rebo Saguisag, one of Adarna’s legal counsels, said that the actress cannot make it to the hearing because doctors advised her not to take any form of traveling due to her delicate pregnancy.
“Ayun na nga, may medical certificate, advised against any form of travel. Parang may binanggit dun na under normal fetal weight. Magaan yung bata masyado. Again, hindi pinapabiyahe ang aming kliyente,” PEP quoted Atty. Saguisag.
Atty. Saguisag added that Adarna is also still in mourning after the recent death of her father, who died of apparent cardiac arrest earlier this month.
Adarna is currently in Cebu that is why her camp is asking to reschedule the hearing once again.
Adarna’s legal counsel said that he understands the disappointment that the complainants felt because of Adarna’s absence and the fact that they have not yet submitted a counter-narrative.
“Siguro naman nagbanggit kami dati, ‘We will try.’ But again, hindi natin alam ang kalagayan ni Ellen. May disclaimer naman po kami nun, two weeks ago, sabi namin hindi namin maipapangako,” Atty. Saguisag defended.
When asked if Adarna is required to attend the hearing on July 9, Atty. Saguisag said that she does not need to be there and that they will find another way.
“Sumpaan yung kontra-salaysay sa piskalya sa Cebu, ‘tapos i-submit namin. However, pati yun, binawalan ng kanyang doktor. Again, that’s the problem, she was advised any form of travel,” he said.
“Ayaw naman namin pilitin. Ayaw muna namin siya ma-stress. Medyo difficult yung pregnancy,” he added.
Atty. Saguisag also said that they have not come up with a decision on how to settle the lawsuits.
“We will have to discuss with the client. We don’t want to preempt that yet. As lawyers, dapat open kayo sa lahat ng options. As peacemakers, hindi naman kami laging palaban. But we have not discussed that option nang malaliman.
“For now, with due respect sa mourning niya, and we just want her to have a safe delivery. Ayaw muna namin siyang ma-stress,” he said.
