Baron gets ready for rehab

Controversial actor Baron Geisler said he would once again seek professional medical assistance for his alcohol dependency after he lost a regular stint in a weekly TV show.

Baron, 26, said he is scheduled to meet with his doctor anytime this week.

Baron made the announcement during a recent lunch gathering for Purple Box apparel, which he endorses, admitting that he lost what could have been a regular slot on TV5’s horror series “Midnight DJ” because he arrived drunk on the set.

“My girlfriend broke up with me the night before the taping,” related Baron, who has been doing guesting stints on the show. “I got depressed. I had a few drinks before going to work. But I don’t get drunk every time there’s work — only when I’m depressed. I know it shouldn’t be an excuse, though.”

‘I’m sorry’

The actor said he regrets his mistake but insisted that he “never hurt anyone or treated anyone with disrespect” on the set. He also finished his scenes for ‘Midnight DJ’ for that last taping day, he added.

Baron had been involved in numerous drunken brawls in the past. One bar scuffle left him with two visible scars on the left cheek.

His mother eventually checked him into an alcohol rehab program.

“I’m different now,” Baron told a group of entertainment writers. “I used to lose control of myself when drunk. I used to be really scary. But I’m just very emotional. I know I’d eventually get pass this.”

Baron also denied involvement in the shooting of fellow actor Jake Cuenca’s SUV in Mandaluyong City last week. According to police reports, Jake was not inside his Ford Expedition when the incident happened.

“I’m not capable of doing that to anyone,” Baron said. “I don’t even have a gun. I hate guns. My guess is that, whoever did it, nag-trip lang kay Jake. Artista kasi. I don’t think Jake had trouble with anyone. He’s a good guy.”

Jake and Baron nearly figured in a fistfight on the set of “ASAP ’09” in January. Jake was angry with Baron over the “negative” things the latter reportedly said about his “Tayong Dalawa” co-star. A week later, the two actors announced they have decided to patch things up.

“Jake and I have become real chums after working together on the set. Only yesterday, we shared a lot of stuff about our love life,” said Baron. “I got to know him better at work. I think the guy is just misunderstood. Jake is really a great person.”

Baron is currently facing sexual harassment charges filed by “Pinoy Big Brother 2” fellow housemate Yayo Aguila’s daughter Patricia. He said he is looking forward to the pre-trial meeting set on April 14.

More projects

Despite the controversies hounding him, Baron said he is thankful that industry colleagues still trust him enough to give him TV and film projects. His performance in the Cinemalaya film fest entry “Jay,” by Francis Passion, has earned raves for the actor in numerous festivals abroad.

Aside from “Tayong Dalawa,” Baron is also seen in the Kapamilya show “Eva Fonda” and soon, in the romantic dramedy “The Wedding,” featuring Anne Curtis.

“This only means I’m doing something right — even though my personal life is a mess,” the actor said.

Judge in Baron Geisler's harassment case inhibits self

The judge presiding over the harassment case filed by Patrizhia Martinez against actor Baron Geisler has inhibited himself from hearing the case.

In a statement released Friday, Judge Ronald Moreno of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 64 said he has inhibited himself from the case upon learning that several court employees received movie passes from a still unidentified individual in a hearing of the Geisler case last December 19.

Moreno said that while the movie passes have no particular monetary value, he said he would rather inhibit from the case to preserve the integrity of the court.

Geisler had pleaded not guilty to charges of acts of lasciviousness slapped against him by the 21-year-old daughter of William Martinez and Ma. Rosario “Yayo" Aguila-Martinez.

The case is set to be re-raffled before the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court.

Geisler pleads not guilty to acts of lasciviousness

Actor Baron Geisler had pleaded not guilty to charges of acts of lasciviousness slapped against him by the 21-year-old daughter of William Martinez and Ma. Rosario “Yayo" Aguila-Martinez before the Makati City Metropolitan Trial Court.

During Tuesday’s arraignment of the case, Makati MTC Branch 64 Judge Ronald Romero asked the parties if they were amenable to settlement through mediation, but the complainant, Patrizha Maree, said she is not open to it. Romero then scheduled the pre-trial of the case on April 14 at 1:30 p.m.

Patrizha was accompanied in the courtroom by her parents.

Geisler’s lawyer, Bonifacio Alentajan, said his client pleaded not guilty because he believes the case was nothing but a “nuisance suit." He said they would be filing a motion to dismiss the case following the arraignment.

Alentajan maintained that the elements constituting the charge of acts of lasciviousness are absent in the complaint filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) against his client.

"After the arraignment, we will file a motion to quash because the information does not constitute an offense," Alentajan said, adding that under the law, a lascivious act is done with force, violence or intimidation and done with a lewd design.

Alentajan said Patrizha did not mention in her affidavit that Geisler used force, violence or intimidation when he allegedly touched her breast inside a posh Makati bar last year.

The lawyer said Geisler could not have had a lewd design against Patrizha since the supposed act was done inside a crowded bar.

"Paano ka magkakaroon ng pagnanasa o lewd design sa loob ng isang restaurant [How can you perpetrate a lewd act in a restaurant]?" Alentajan said.

The incident occurred last April 25, 2008 inside Fiama Bar on Jupiter Street in Makati City where Patrizha was partying with friends.

But Salvador Panelo, Patrizha’s lawyer, said the defendant’s camp was just resorting to “squid tactics," adding that they have enough proof to prove their case.

"We will present our evidence to prove our case. They should just present theirs to counter ours. The only issue here is probable cause. In interviews, the accused (Giesler) said he touched the breast of my client, but he said he was just playing a role. Dun pa lang may probable cause na [Based on those statements, there is already probable cause]," Panelo said.

Interviewed before the arraignment, Geisler, dressed in a black business suit, said he is confident in winning the case. "I just want to work. Ang hirap ng may bitibit kang ganitong pangyayari [It's hard to carry this kind of burden]," he said.

Baron Geisler feels no need for rehab

Actor Baron Geisler said he feels no need to undergo rehabilitation treatment for his drinking problem.

In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com, Geisler denied that he is addicted to alcohol.

"I don't need it. I'm a working actor. Ito na lang, panoorin niyo na lang po ang lahat ng trabaho ko. Kasi kung alchoholic po ako, hindi ko po magagawa ang lahat na success sa trabaho ko," Geisler explained.

The actor admitted he has not stopped drinking, but claimed he is just an occasional drinker.

"No. I haven't stopped. I drink once in a while, occasional, but no more being bad boy. It's just on TV, that's it," he said.

Although there is no way he can prevent people from saying he is "bad," the awarded actor appealed to his critics to stop judging him. "If they say that I'm bad, it's okay."

The Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition Season 2 housemate said he is thankful for all the blessings he has received, including a new ABS-CBN television series, "Tayong Dalawa" with Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and Jake Cuenca.

Baron, who made headlines when the daughter of actor William Martinez and Yayo Aguila filed a harassment case against him, said he is focused on trying to fulfill his dream of having his own house, his own show, and being another Piolo Pascual, a popular and highly-paid actor.

"Minsan kasi, puro Baron, Baron lang. Gusto ko naman ngayon, pera para mabigyan ko ang mommy ko ng bahay," he said.