MANILA, Philippines – 2024 was an interesting year for Philippine showbiz. Beyond the great films, series, and songs we got, there were also messy issues involving Filipino stars. 

Other than this, however, our local celebrities also found themselves in legal battles on both ends of the spectrum. It’s only fitting, then, that we make a separate compilation of some of the most notable cases Filipino celebrities were involved in this year before welcoming 2025. 

Pokwang’s ex-partner Lee O’Brian deported

On April 8, Pokwang’s ex-partner Lee O’Brian was deported by the Bureau of Immigration on board a Philippine Airlines flight headed for San Francisco. 

“Bawal ang mga babaero at mapang-aping dayuhan sa ating bansa (Womanizers and oppressive foreigners have no place in this country),” Pokwang’s legal counsel Rafael Calinisan said. 

This came almost a year after Pokwang filed a petition in June 2023 to have the American national deported and his visa canceled, claiming that O’Brian had been actively working in the film, television, and theatrical industry but did not have a special working permit.

O’Brian fired back with a counter-affidavit, saying that he always put the best interest of their daughter, Malia, first. In December 2023, however, Pokwang won her deportation case against her ex-partner. 

Several celebrities vs. Cristy Fermin

This year, a handful of celebrities filed cyber libel complaints against controversial showbiz talk show host Cristy Fermin. 

Sarah Lahbati’s mother, Esther, was one of the first to file a complaint, doing it in March. While Fermin did not disclose the reason behind the complaint, she speculated that it was related to her comments on Sarah’s separation from Richard Gutierrez. 

In May, Bea Alonzo filed a complaint against Fermin, Ogie Diaz, and the pair’s talk show co-hosts. She said it was because she became a victim of false, malicious, and damaging information by a mystery basher, which was then publicly discussed by Fermin and Diaz in their online show. Alonzo also said that the two, along with their co-hosts, continued to defame her and even talked about the allegations that she did not pay the correct tax. 

Only days after, Sharon Cuneta and Kiko Pangilinan filed their own complaint against Fermin, alleging that the 68-year-old subjected them to “humiliation and ridicule” brought about by the malicious statements she made about the couple. 

On Cristy FerMinute, Fermin acknowledged all the cyber libel complaints that had been filed against her thus far, stating that she understood where they were coming from, but couldn’t say anything else yet.

“Talagang tumataas ang mga libel, [ang] mga demandahan. From Sarah Lahbati, to Bea Alonzo, Sharon Cuneta na ang kasunod. Sino po kaya ang susunod, si Julia Roberts na? Basta, naiintindihan natin kung saan sila nagmumula. Wala pa po ako masasabi. Wala pa kaming impormasyon na tinatanggap, basta naiintindihan natin ito. Kasama po ‘yan sa trabaho natin bilang mamamahayag,” she said.

(The libel complaints, lawsuits are coming. From Sarah Lahbati, to Bea Alonzo, and now Sharon Cuneta. Who’s next, Julia Roberts? We understand where they’re coming from. I can’t say anything yet. We haven’t received any information yet, but we understand. That’s part of our job as journalists.)

In the same month, Dominic Roque followed suit, bringing the number of complaints against Fermin to four. Roque’s legal counsel said that Fermin made “malicious defamatory innuendos” about the actor. Fermin suggested that Roque had a benefactor, a politician, who owned the condominium unit where the Pagpag: Siyam na Buhay star was currently living. Roque held that these claims were false. 

Sandro Muhlach files rape complaint vs. independent GMA contractors

After the GMA Gala in late July, reports circulated that a young actor was sexually assaulted by two independent contractors after the event. The actor was later revealed to be Sandro Muhlach, who formally filed a sexual molestation complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation on August 2 against Jojo Nones and Richard Cruz. 

The Hearts on Ice star filed a rape through sexual assault complaint against Nones and Cruz on August 19, also making his first appearance in a series of Senate hearings regarding his case. He later also revealed that he was even forced to use illegal drugs before the sexual assault took place. 

On September 13, Nones and Cruz filed a counter-affidavit against the actor. The pair’s legal counsel claimed that there was insufficient evidence against them and that Muhlach’s testimonies were inconsistent. 

However, on October 30, the Department of Justice filed charges of rape and acts of lasciviousness against the pair, saying that it found sufficient evidence to do so. Acting Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon affirmed Muhlach’s testimonies, which were used as basis to file the charges. 

Star Magic takes legal action over BINI deepfakes 

In September, Star Magic issued a statement condemning the circulation of “malicious” and “harmful” deepfake videos edited to show the BINI members’ faces. The company said they took action to remove some of the accounts that posted AI-generated material. 

“We are working with the government agencies and authorities to identify the individuals behind these acts,” it wrote, adding that the safety of the eight-member P-pop girl group was their priority. 

#BINI : Advisory pic.twitter.com/iREzIL7S7q

— BINI_PH (@BINI_ph) September 2, 2024

This came just after fans discovered X accounts and a Telegram group chat that all allegedly had photos, videos, and messages that sexualized the BINI members.

Rita Daniela files acts of lasciviousness complaint vs. Archie Alemania

On October 30, Rita Daniela filed an acts of lasciviousness complaint against her Widows’ War co-star Archie Alemania.

The incident took place in early September at a house party Bea Alonzo organized for the show’s cast. Rita, whose full name is Rita Daniela de Guzman Iringan, said in her complaint affidavit that Alemania, who appeared to be drunk, made several sexual remarks about her throughout the party.

When Rita was about to head home via a ride-hailing service, Alemania insisted that he take her home instead. The actress alleged that in the middle of the ride, Alemania caressed her neck and shoulder. When they arrived at Rita’s home in Bacoor, the 46-year-old actor allegedly forcefully grabbed her hand and asked for a kiss.

Rita said that even though she declined, Alemania proceeded to forcibly kiss her “with his tongue out.” In her attempt to escape from his grasp, he allegedly pulled on her bag strap and groped his breast. Alemania also allegedly kept asking her for a booking, implying sexual intercourse. Finally managing to break free from Alemania, Rita rushed into her home and said that Alemania started to call and text her, remaining outside her house.

Alemania then supposedly went home and texted Rita, apologizing for his drunkenness. In the complaint affidavit, Rita said that her text message exchange with Alemania proved that he had admitted to his actions.

Neri Miranda arrested for estafa

Actress-entrepreneur Neri Miranda was arrested in November for alleged estafa and 14 counts of violation of the Securities Regulation Code — otherwise known as Section 28 of Republic Act No. 8799 — in relation to her involvement with Dermacare.

Her husband, Chito Miranda, upheld her innocence, saying that her name and image were just used to get investors and that she did not commit any fraudulent activity. 

“Kinasuhan siya ng mga nabiktima. Tapos, last week, bigla na lang siyang inaresto for the same case kahit hindi siya binigyan ng notice na may bagong criminal complaint pala laban sa kanya, and ‘di niya na-defend ‘yung sarili niya,” he wrote.

(The victims filed a case against her. Then, last week, she was suddenly arrested for the same case even though she wasn’t given a notice that there was a new criminal complaint against her, and she wasn’t able to defend herself.)

The actress’ release was later ordered in early December. Her co-counsel, Aureli Sinsuat, confirmed to Rappler that Branch 112 of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court granted their motion to quash Miranda’s warrant of arrest and that her case was up for reinvestigation by the Office of the City Prosecutor. 

Rufa Mae Quinto 

In December, Rufa Mae Quinto — who is a Dermacare endorser like Miranda — found herself facing an arrest warrant for her involvement with the company, which the Securities and Exchange Commission said was engaged in a ponzi scheme. 

Quinto’s arrest warrant was for her 14 counts of violation of Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code, which states: 

“Securities shall not be sold or offered for sale or distribution within the Philippines, without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the Commission. Prior to such sale, information on the securities, in such form and with such substance as the Commission may prescribe, shall be made available to each prospective purchaser.”

The comedienne denied the allegations that she’s involved in fraudulent activity, adding that she, too, was a victim.

Which legal case piqued your interest the most? – Rappler.com