Pumalag ang legal counsel ng "Journey" lead singer na si Arnel Pineda sa mga naglabasang ulat na umano'y naisyuhan ang kliyente ng warrant of arrest sa kasong "Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children (VAWC)" na isinampa laban sa kaniya ng estranged wife.
Ayon sa mga ulat, kinasuhan si Pineda ng kaniyang dating misis dahil umano sa infidelity at psychological abuse.
Ang nasabing umano'y warrant of arrest ay inisyu noon pang Miyerkules, Setyembre 10, ni Judge Mary Ann Punzalan-Toribio, ng Quezon City Regional Trial Court - Branch 99, na may inirerekomendang ₱72,000 piyansa.
Ayon pa sa mga ulat, nagkaroon ng pagdinig sa QC RTC Branch 99 noong Huwebes, Setyembre 11, ngunit hindi umano nagpakita si Pineda. Kinabukasan, pinuntahan ang mang-aawit sa bahay nito ngunit wala umano ito roon.
KAUGNAY NA BALITA: Arnel Pineda, inisyuhan ng arrest warrant dahil sa VAWC
Subalit sa inilabas na pahayag ng abogado ni Pineda, sinabi niyang bench warrant ang inilabas ng korte at hindi arrest warrant.
Ipinaliwanag niya ang pagkakaiba ng bench warrant sa arrest warrant.
"Mr. Pineda was required to appear, but at the time, he was confined in the hospital and could not attend. When the arraignment was later re-scheduled, he remained unable to appear. For this reason, the court issued a bench warrant to compel his attendance."
"The order issued by the RTC is a bench warrant. It is a procedural directive to secure attendance in court proceedings. It arose after Mr. Pineda was unable to attend hearings."
“This should not be confused with a warrant of arrest for the commission of a crime," aniya pa.
Naghain din sila ng mosyon para i-defer ang arrainment sa nabanggit na demanda.