Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — American artist Chris Brown is still stuck in the Philippines because of an alleged breach of contract — and he has taken to social media on Friday (July 24 PHT) to plead his innocence.
‘ ‘1’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
I have nothing to do with anything going on right now. I came back to Manila to do a make up show for New Years. I did the show 3 days ago
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) July 24, 2015
Brown was barred from leaving Manila on Wednesday (July 22 PHT) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) because of an Immigration Lookout Bulletin (ILB) issued by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), as ordered by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The bulletin was posted due to a criminal complaint of estafa filed against Brown and his promoter, John Michael Pio Roda, for “deceitful misrepresentation and swindling.” Brown believes that he has nothing to do with such complaints.
‘ ‘4’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
This is a very serious situation and someone needs to be held accountable for mixing my name up in all this. I've done nothing wrong!!!
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) July 24, 2015
‘Breach of contract’
According to the DOJ memo, the complaint alleges that Brown and Pio Roda committed a breach of contract when the international star canceled his January 1 appearance at the 2015 Philippine Countdown event at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan — a venue operated by Maligaya Development Corp.
The complainant is named as Glicerio P. Santos IV, chief operating officer of Maligaya Development Corp. and head legal counsel of the Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious group in the Philippines.
‘ ‘8’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
#TeamBreezyManila! Due to unfortunate circumstances I can't bring in the new year with you…
— Chris Brown (@chrisbrown) December 31, 2014
The reason for the cancellation, according to Brown in a video shown at the Philippine Arena, was that he had lost his passport and was unable to make the trip to the Philippines.
Santos alleged that Brown and Pio Roda refused to return the money that had already been paid to them.
Related: Singer Chris Brown frustrated, confused as forced stay in Philippines drags on
A way out
On Tuesday (July 21 PHT) Brown finally arrived in the Philippines, and performed at a different venue.
‘ ’14’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima said that Brown can leave the country after securing clearance from the BI.
BI spokesperson Elaine Tan explained that the ILB is not a hold departure order and is not, on its own, a bar to departure of subjects. Nevertheless, Brown and Pio Roda would need to obtain an Emigration Clearance Certificate (ECC) before they can be allowed to depart from the Philippines”.
For foreign nationals, the ILB requires subjects to obtain the ECC, pursuant to the Philippine Immigration Act, to ensure that the foreign national has no pending obligations in the Philippines.
As of Thursday night (July 23 PHT), De Lima said that Brown has yet to comply with this requirement.
Brown was supposed to leave on Wednesday (July 22 PHT) for a concert in Hong Kong.
