Salud withdraws damage suit against hotelier Gatchalian

CEBU, Philippines - Boxing promoter Rex “Wacky” Salud withdrew the civil case for damages he filed against hotelier William Gatchalian after the latter has settled his monetary obligations with him.

 Salud asked the Regional Trial Court to dismiss the case he earlier filed against Gatchalian pursuant to the provisions of the rules of court.

“The plaintiff respectfully prays to the Honorable Court to dismiss this case with prejudice in accordance with Section 1, Rule 17 of the Rules of Court,” the notice of withdrawal read.

 Salud, a resident of 15-B Balagtas Street , Cebu City, said that Gatchalian has already paid his monetary obligation to him. He attached a waiver and quitclaim acknowledging that he received the amount of P1,250,000 from Gatchalian

 Salud filed earlier a civil case for collection of sum of money and damages against Gatchalian. He claimed that sometime in September 2003 a certain Mr. Bitanga approached and convinced him “to rediscount the check” of Gatchalian in the sum of P2.5 million.

He said that since they were friends with Gatchalian he called the latter and asked if he issued a check to Bitanga which he answered in affirmative. Salud added that Gatchalian even requested him to cash the check by way of rediscounting it with the assurance that the check “will be sufficiently funded when due.”

 Salud said that after he verified from the representatives of the bank that the said check belong to the defendant he then cashed the check. However, the check was not honored by the bank when he cash it for insufficiency of funds.

Salud claimed that Gatchalian refused to pay his obligation despite repeated demands to him prompting him to bring the matter before the court. (FREEMAN)