Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda faces a bench warrant issued by a Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) in connection to a domestic abuse complaint filed by his estranged wife.

The warrant, an arrest order for one who has failed to appear in court, was released by the QC RTC Branch 99 on September 12 due to his absence from a hearing on the case. Bail was fixed at ₱72,000.

Pineda’s wife alleged she had been subject to “verbal assaults, manipulation, and coercive behavior,” which drove her to leave their home, in violation of Republic Act 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act (VAWC).

Meanwhile, Pineda filed a motion to defer his arraignment. According to a report, his legal counsel explained he was initially confined in the hospital and remained unable to attend even after proceedings were rescheduled.

Pineda’s camp continued that his wife’s complaint comes over a year after he filed two adultery cases against her. The case was raised to the Department of Justice (DOJ), which dismissed the VAWC case, ruling it “baseless.”

The frontman held his peace regarding the adultery cases, believing disputes must be settled through proper courts and not the court of public opinion, his legal counsel said.

His wife, on the other hand, violated the sub judice rule, which prohibits the disclosure of ongoing legal proceedings.