Prosecution seeks the cancellation of Sarah Lahbati’s bail and issuance of a warrant for her arrest

The lawyers of GMA Films President Anna Teresa G. Abrogar filed a motion for the cancellation and forfeiture of the P10,000 bail posted by GMA talent Sarah Lahbati with Branch 59 of the Regional Trial Court of Makati last July 25. The motion, which had the conformity of Asst. City Prosecutor Dalig, likewise sought the issuance of a warrant of arrest against the controversial actress.

This after Lahbati once again left the country on board flight PR 102 bound for Los Angeles on July 16, just four days after the approval of her bail, without seeking prior permission from the Court.

The Makati RTC issued an order on May 20 finding probable cause to sustain the filing of a libel case against Lahbati. The order simultaneously fixed a P10,000 bail for her provisional liberty and issued a warrant of arrest against her. But the warrant of arrest was not served to Lahbati because she left the country for Switzerland soon after the filing of the complaint-affidavit for libel against her. On July 12, Lahbati returned to Manila and immediately posted bail. Four days after, Lahbati again left the country without the Court’s permission.

Under Section 23 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure, “an accused released on bail may be re-arrested without the necessity of a warrant if he attempts to depart from the Philippines without permission of the court where the case is pending.”