Amalia Fuentes seeks DOJ review of robbery case

MANILA, Philippines - Actress Amalia Fuentes asked Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday to review the resolution of State Prosecutor Jose Paner finding probable cause to charge her, son Gerald Stevens and two others with robbery before a Quezon City court.

The counsels of Fuentes, Amalia Muhlach Stevens in real life, said their client could not be held liable for robbery because the prosecutor did not present evidence of use of force, an important element in the crime.

“There is no element taking, by the use of force, upon things and persons because the items in the said storage were the personal and exclusive properties of appellant Amalia Stevens,” read Fuentes’ petition.

The complaint was a mere “intra-corporate case,” according to her lawyers.

Fuentes said she has a right over of First Mindanao Agriculture Corp. (FMAC) as the “silent partner” of her husband, Joseph Stevens. “I have also invested in this company,” she said. “I was actually the one who gave him money to put up the company. He was the guy, but I was the one earning then so I wanted him to have a company so he wouldn’t feel awkward being the husband of this beauty.”

Fuentes believes her estranged husband was behind the complaint filed by his half brother, Rafael Anton, a stockholder of FMAC.

“It is very clear that he (Mr. Stevens) has a concubine and that he wants me and my son out so as not to give what is due us,” she said.

Fuentes told reporters she did not steal the documents from the FMAC office but only took the papers to use them as evidence in cases she was planning to file, including petition for temporary protection order against her husband, whom she also accused of threatening her life.

“I did not steal those (documents and valuables),” she said. “I have evidence to prove that. This complaint is based on lies.”

The filing of the case was part of continuing harassment from her estranged husband, she added.

Last May 14, Paner charged Fuentes, her son Gerald, Edmark Ramirez and Diosdado Cabilbil with robbery before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The four were charged with stealing documents, valuables and stock certificates from the office allegedly owned by her estranged husband in 2007. Paner recommended bail of P24,000 each for Fuentes, her son, Ramirez and Cabilbil.

The missing items included personal files, managers checks, digital cameras, car registrations, titles, check books and stock certificates, all worth P243,721.44, reportedly belonging to Anton, according to the complaint. – Edu Punay