NEWSFLASH

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CARMINA-RUSTOM ANNULMENT HEARINGS BEGIN

Pasig City, July 18, 1998 - A tearful Carmina Villaroel emerged from the chambers of Pasig City Regional Trial Court Judge Maria Cristina Estrada last Wednesday accompanied by her lawyer Katrina Legarda.

Four years after their secret civil wedding and almost a year after their very public separation, Carmina and Rustom were face-to-face at the Pasay City court for the pre-trial of the annulment case filed by Carmina.

Judge Estrada invited the erstwhile lovebirds to a 10-minute closed-door hearing, much to the chagrin of a horde of photographers and reporters who had gathered at the court premises early, hoping for a dramatic confrontation.

The 22-year-old actress had said she anted her marriage annulled on the grounds of psychological incapacity and domestic violence on the part of Rustom. The actor had publicly denied being a wife-beater.

Neither the lawyers nor the married couple would comment on what transpired inside the judge's chambers.

Carmina and Rustom were married by a Kalookan judge on June 4, 1994, in private civil ceremonies witnessed by their closest friends Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez. Martin and Pops are likewise separated and may be headed for annulment hearings also.

The Carmina-Rustom marriage was Philippine cinema's best-kept secret until the two separated and admitted on TV that they had indeed been legally married and not merely live-in lovers.

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