Cristy Fermin at Romel Chika, humarap sa NBI kaugnay ng kasong isinampa ni Claudine Barretto

• Showbiz commentators Cristy Fermin and Romel Chika personally appeared before the NBI on Monday to answer an official agency invitation
• Accompanied by their legal counsel, Cristy clarified they attended out of pure respect for the hardworking investigative bureau
• In a surprising move, the embattled broadcasters decided not to submit a formal counter-affidavit during their agency visit
• The veteran host explained that they will simply hold their fire and wait for the legal proceedings to reach the prosecutor's office

Veteran showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin and her co-host Romel Chika made a highly publicized personal appearance at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) this Monday, shifting the spotlight onto their cooperative legal stance rather than the cyberlibel case filed against them by Claudine Barretto.

Accompanied by their legal counsel, Atty. Shirley Mae Tabangcura-Dasco, the popular media personalities stepped into the bureau strictly to heed an official invitation, making a powerful public statement about their deep respect for the country's formal investigative process and government institutions.

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Speaking candidly to eager reporters during a chance interview just outside the government office, Cristy emphasized that their physical presence was a deliberate display of courtesy.

“Kaya kami nandito… may imbitasyon ang NBI para makapagbigay kami ng pahayag. Unang-una, respeto para sa ahensya, kaya kami narito,” the seasoned commentator confidently stated, showing complete composure despite the heavy legal matters at hand.

She further praised the hardworking officials, pointing out the absolute necessity of cooperating with proper authorities who are simply doing their sworn duties.

“Hindi namin puwedeng balewalain ang tulad ng NBI na ginagawa naman ang kanilang makakaya para maiayos at maresolba ang mga kaso,” the host explained, as detailed in a news report by Inquirer.net.

However, what truly caught the attention of legal observers was the duo's calculated move during the highly anticipated visit.

Instead of immediately fighting back with mountains of paperwork to defend themselves right then and there, Cristy and Romel chose to hold their fire.

The veteran host revealed that they intentionally decided not to submit a formal counter-affidavit at the NBI level.

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Explaining their remarkably calm and collected next move, the broadcaster firmly declared, “Hindi na kami magka-counter dito. Hintayin na lang namin.”

By withholding their counterstatement, the duo opted to wait for the complaint to be formally elevated to the prosecutor's office before officially laying out their full legal defense.

For now, the focus remains entirely on their willingness to face the music properly. As the seasoned media practitioners navigate this challenging legal hurdle, their composed NBI appearance clearly proves they are handling the intense situation with calculated grace while strictly following the proper judicial process every step of the way.

With decades of experience in breaking explosive entertainment news, veteran talk show host and showbiz columnist Cristy Fermin is no stranger to legal battles. She recently secured major legal victories after successfully defeating high-profile lawsuits filed against her by prominent celebrities, including Bea Alonzo and Sharon Cuneta.

Recently, the veteran showbiz commentator fearlessly fired back after being questioned about the formal cease-and-desist letter recently sent by actress Claudine Barretto's camp. As reported by Salve Asis in Pilipino Star Ngayon, the outspoken host boldly asserted that any impending lawsuit must have solid legal merit, standing firm that her controversial statements were strictly her personal opinions. The escalating feud centers around Cristy's on-air commentary regarding Claudine’s recent hospital confinement, which the actress publicly posted about on Instagram without disclosing the actual medical reason. In retaliation, Claudine publicly unveiled the legal warning drafted by her lawyers against Cristy Fermin and Rommel Chika, strongly condemning their broadcasted remarks as malicious and entirely false.

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Previously, Cristy scored a massive legal victory after a local court officially acquitted her in the cyberlibel case previously filed by actor Dominic Roque. The veteran broadcaster joyfully announced the triumphant news this Wednesday immediately after receiving the formal court resolution from Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 158. According to the official judicial ruling, the prosecution completely failed to present enough solid evidence to prove that the columnist's statements were driven by "actual malice." With this latest absolute dismissal, Cristy has now officially and successfully closed the chapter on all the high-profile lawsuits filed against her by various celebrities in 2024.

Source: KAMI.com.gh