Baron Geisler files graft raps vs 3 DOJ execs

Actor Baron Geisler on Friday filed before the Office of the Ombudsman graft charges against three Department of Justice officials responsible for recommending the filing of acts of lasciviousness charges against him.

In a QTV Balitanghali report, GMA News' Alex Tinsay reported that Geisler went to the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City to personally file the complaints. He was accompanied by lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan.

Named as respondents in the charge sheet were Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Miguel Gudio, and State Prosecutor Amanda Felipe.

In the 14-page recommendation approved by Zuño, Felipe, who heads the investigating body, said Geisler should be charged with acts of lasciviousness before the Makati Regional Trial Court.

The DOJ had also dismissed the three counter-charges hurled by Geisler against victim Patrizha Maree Martinez; her celebrity mother Ma. Rosario “Yayo" Aguila; and family friend Steffanie Barrios.

Alentajan said the three prosecutors “abused" their authority and violated the provisions under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act of 1992.

The actor’s lawyer insisted the DOJ could not recommend the filing of cases to a lower court. Geisler’s case stemmed from an April bar incident, where he allegedly invited the victim for sex and made lewd advances on her.

Alentajan said the prosecutors erred when they decided to recommended the filing of acts of lasciviousness charges against his client.

The lawyer said no element of forced threat or intimidation could be established, given that Fiamma Bar, where the incident happened, was reportedly packed at the time.

For his part, Geisler said the battle is not yet finished.

The actor also appealed to the public not to cast judgments about him as long as the issue has not yet been resolved.

As for the dismissal of the perjury and unjust vexation charges, Alentajan said the prosecutors do not have the authority to hand down such decision because it is only reserved to provincial or city courts.

DOJ recommends acts of lasciviousness case vs actor Baron Geisler

The Department of Justice has recommended the filing of criminal charges against actor Baron Frederick Von Geisler after establishing that there is probable cause to indict him for acts of lasciviousness.

In a 14-page joint resolution, Prosecution Attorney Amanda Felipe said that after consideration of the evidence presented, probable cause to indict Geisler for one count of acts of lasciviousness was established.

Felipe, meanwhile, dismissed Geisler’s complaint of unjust vexation filed against complainant Patrizha Maree Martinez and his complaint of perjury against Steffanie Ann Chua Barrios and Patrizha’s mother, actress Ma. Rosario “Yayo” Aguila-Martinez.

“After a careful and thoughtful consideration of the evidence presented in the above captioned cases, the undersigned investigating prosecutor finds that there is probable cause to indict Baron for acts of lasciviousness but no probable cause to indict Patrizha of unjust vexation, and Steffanie and Yayo for perjury,” said Felipe in the resolution which was approved by Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño.

In his complaint of unjust vexation against Patrizha, Geisler alleged that Patrizha’s act of rubbing her lips and tongue against his left ear tickled him and caused him annoyance, vexation, disturbance or irritation. As such, Geisler said he pushed Patrizha away, accidentally hitting her breasts with his hands and hurriedly left the bar. Geisler claimed that the night ended without any untoward incident. In her counter-affidavit, Patrizha denied Geisler’s allegations and maintained that the complaint of unjust vexation has no legal or factual basis “being a poor afterthought.”

The DOJ ruled in favor of Patrizha saying that the timing of the filing of Geisler’s unjust vexation complaint “casts serious doubts on the veracity of his allegations.” “The claim of Baron that Patrizha’s lips and tongue rubbed on his left ear, tickling him and causing him annoyance, irritation, vexation, or disturbance to his mind that was why he pushed Patrizha away, accidentally hitting her breasts with his hands is unbelievable and contrary to the statements he made in various television interviews regarding the said incident,” the DOJ said.

Geisler in his counter-affidavit, told the DOJ that it was Patrizha, whom he claimed to be intoxicated, as the one who wanted to be alone with him, and was the one who allegedly made advances on him on the night of April 25, inside the Fiama bar in Makati City.

Geisler, in his seven-page counter-affidavit, also asked the DOJ to dismiss the acts of lasciviousness complaint filed against him by Patrizha, daughter of actors Yayo Aguila and William Martinez.

“It was complainant who hugged respondent (Geisler) very tight, burying her chest into respondent’s abdomen and her face in the armpit, causing the latter terrible annoyance and irritation. Naturally complainant felt that her breasts was being touched,” Geisler said in his counter-affidavit. Geisler also claimed that the complainant rubbed her lips and tongue in his left ear, “causing him annoyance.” In the process, Geisler said he had accidentally hit the complainant’s breast with his hands when he tried to push her away. According to Geisler he then immediately left the bar after the incident.

Jodi says she's happy for Baron's revitalized career

Actress Jodi Sta. Maria, the former real and reel partner of controversial actor Baron Geisler, says that she's happy for Baron's blooming career.

"He's gone through so much in life and he's had so many intrigues thrown at him. What's important is that he's survived it all. He just hung on," Sta. Maria said during the premiere of her latest independent film "cul-de-sac."

Jodi and Baron played lovebirds in the hit youth-oriented show "Tabing Ilog", which launched the dramatic careers of John Lloyd Cruz, Kaye Abad, Paolo Contis, Desiree del Valle and Patrick Garcia.

Geisler gained notoriety after he was booted out of ABS-CBN's Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition 2. He was also sued for acts of lasciviousness by Patricia Martinez, daughter of William Martinez and Yayo Aguila.

He recently bagged the best actor plum at the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival for his effective portrayal of a manipulative homosexual program presenter in Francis Pasion’s debut film "Jay." Geisler is a cast member on ABS-CBN's newest television series "Eva Fonda."

For Jodi, who is now happily married to Senator Panfilo Lacson's son Pampi and mother to their son Thirdy, she only hopes that Geisler will continue to improve and change his life for the better. "Ang pagbabago ay tuloy tuloy lang niya at alam naman niya kung ano ang makakabuti at kung ano ang makakatulong sa kanya," the actress added.

Jodi is currently doing several showbiz projects mostly for independent producers.