Lawyers for complainant disallowed to participate in case vs. Yanson 4

A hearing of a case for grave coercion filed by a person who claims to represent Vallacar Transit Inc.

(VTI) against Ricardo Yanson, Jr., Roy Yanson, Emily Yanson, Ma. Lourdes Celina Lopez (the “Y4”) and others was conducted May 29 before Judge Abraham Bayona of the Bacolod Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 7. Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa said lawyers for the Y4 maintained their innocence and added that the criminal complaint was not authorized to be filed by VTI whose management is still being questioned before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court, Branch 53, in a petition filed in December 2019.

They further explained that the issuance of a warrant of arrest, if any is forthcoming, does not at all detract from the presumption of innocence they enjoy as an accused in any criminal case, an entitlement which is a basic constitutional right. It also is a bailable offense, Narvasa said in a statement. During the proceedings before MTC Br. 7, the Court disallowed the participation of Attys. Gerry Lena, Jubert Katalbas, Maria Corazon Katalbas and Lennon Corgus as Private Prosecutors and stopped them from speaking on complainant’s behalf, he said.

The prosecutors from the Office of the City Prosecutor of Bacolod explained that their office had not given Atty. Lena and his group any authority to appear and act for the government in the case against the Y4, he also said in the press statement dated May 30, 2020.*