The local producer of a Pops Fernandez concert said she would sue the singer-actress and the production manager for breach of contract after they filed criminal charges over a nasty exchange when the show in Mandaue City was cancelled last May.Production manager Gail Antonette Soco said civil charges of breach of contract and damages would be filed in Cebu City courts against ALV Events International Inc. (ALV) and their talent, Fernandez.
Charges of grave threats, unjust vexation and grave slander were earlier filed by Fernandez and Patricia Jacqueline Portillo of ALV against Jeffrey Serrano, Soco’s event organizer last Tuesday at the Mandaue Regional Trial Court. The singer and Portillo mentioned in their complaint that Soco had violated their contract when she failed to pay ALV the contract price for the concert “Divalicious” held in Mandaue City’s Cultural and Sports Complex. Soco was the concert producer. Portillo said Serrano confronted her in front of the audience and hurled insults at her. But Soco claimed there was no breach of contract on her part because it was ALV and Fernandez who didn’t follow the agreed arrangement. Soco said the singer and Portillo were supposed to collect their payment at the venue at 7 p.m. on the night of the concert.
But Fernandez and the other performers from ALV did not show up on the time agreed on and could not be contacted, Soco alleged. She said that about 10:30 p.m., the singer and Portillo contacted Soco and asked for full payment to be brought to their hotel. But Soco refused since they were busy refunding tickets to concertgoers.
The audience started leaving the venue since the concert failed to start on time. Soco said organizers assured Portillo and the singer that they would pay them. But she said Fernandez and Portillo only arrived at 11 p.m. Soco said Fernandez wanted to perform but the concert producer declined because the audience was already heading out. The tickets were being refunded and the crowd was getting angry at the time. Soco admitted that it was Serrano, her event organizer, who faced Portillo. But the producer said there were no confrontation, contrary to the singer’s complaint. Soco said some members of the audience screamed and called Portillo and Fernandez nasty names because they were upset that the concert was cancelled. Soco’s lawyer, Aldwin Fernandez, said that before Fernandez and Portillo filed criminal charges, they sent a demand letter, to which his client has not yet replied.
He said they will ask Portillo to re-imburse all expenses of the cancelled concert. /Correspondent Carine M. Asutilla | 
