Quisumbing Case: Father junks Wesy's move for amicable settlement

Business magnate Norberto Quisumbing Jr., yesterday rejected a recent proposal of his offspring, Wesy Quisumbing, for an amicable settlement of civil cases between the two but the latter hoped the family conflict will be resolved days from now.

Wesy has filed four separate cases against Norberto, and these have been pending at separate Regional Trial Courts, under judges Eric Menchavez, Geraldine Faith Econg, Ireneo Lee Gako Jr. and Generosa Labra.

Wesy - through lawyers -asked these courts to suspend the hearings with intention for an amicable settlement of these cases between the offspring and the father. But Norberto strongly objected to these manifestations from Wesy.

Wesy said the move to suspend the hearing of the cases was to enable both parties to iron out the conflict outside of court's domain.

Wesy, whose former name was Wenceslao Quisumbing until he underwent a sex change abroad in 1996, filed civil cases against her father and her siblings, after Norberto removed her as president and chief executive officer of the family-owned corporation.

But Norberto's lawyers said their client opposed Wesy's motion to suspend the hearings because he has the right to due process and expeditious resolution of the cases.

"The petition raises false and injurious allegations against the respondents which petitioners has continued to use to conduct an unfair and insidious trial by publicity against the respondents in various media," contended Norberto's camp.

"Suspending the proceedings and delaying the well-deserved dismissal of the case will just provide the petitioner an excuse to continue his media campaign against the respondents," the lawyers argued.

The lawyers of both parties already agreed to submit the case for resolution, but Judge Menchavez gave Wesy the chance to talk to her father first and forge and amicable settlement, within 15 days from yesterday.

But in case talks for settlement would fail, Wesy asked the court to give her additional 15 days to prepare the needed pleadings of the case leading to the resolution of the case, which will be based then on merits. - Rene U. Borromeo