Following an alleged dispute over the remaining balance for a house they bought for their mother, actress Ara Mina filed charges of libel and grave coercion against younger sister Cristine Reyes not to claim money but to “teach her a lesson” for her attitude.
Ara Mina (real name Hazel Pascual Reyes), 32 years old, filed cases of libel and grave coercion against her 23-year-old half-sister Cristine Reyes, which was filed at the Quezon City fiscal's office on April 18, 2012.
According to Ara Mina’s lawyer, Cristine Reyes allegedly asked her older sister to give her Ara Mina's SUV as payment for the remaining balance (1.8 million) for a property they bought for their mother. If Mina don't agree, Cristine threatened that she will continue her personal attacks against her sister.
“Hanggang makakapag-pasensya, magpa-pasensya ako. Punung-puno na ako eh, hindi ko na kaya, kasi kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi niya. Kailangan ko lang gawin ‘to kasi ayaw niya makipag-usap. Para maturuan siya ng leksyon, kasi hindi na tama ‘yung ginagawa niya,” Ara said.
Cristine has been continuously attacking her through text messages since she tried to resolve the matter, said Ara.
"Kung ayaw niyo manggulo ako sa buhay niyo, bayaran utang niyo sa akin. Kung wala kayo pangbayad, ibigay niyo hinihingi ko,” Cristine allegedly said in a text message to her sister Ara.
"I'm sure ibebenta mo ‘yang laspag mong katawan na pinagsawaan na ng lahat. Daig pa aso sa sobrang kati,” Cristine said in another text message.
Under Article 353 of the Revised Penal Code, libel may be committed by means of writing, printing, lithography, engraving, radio, phonograph, painting, theatrical exhibition, cinematographic exhibition, or any similar means.
In Cristine Reyes case, her alleged libelous text messages through cellphone might fall under "similar means".
“Pinag-pasensyahan ko na ‘yung ibang ginawa niya before, pero this time marami na po siyang dinamay na tao. Naghihintay ako na, ‘Ate, sorry kung may mga nasabi ako,’ pero wala. Parang wala na siyang sinasanto,” Ara said.
Ara and Cristine had rifts in the past, but this is the most serious one, to the point that Ara has brought it to court. According to Ara, she just want to teach her younger sister Cristine a lesson.
