COMEDIAN Herbert ‘Bistek’ Bautista’ faces new controversy.

It looks like comedian turned politician Herbert Bautista has little to laugh about nowadays. With controversies cropping up left and right around “Bistek,” another hullabaloo has just popped out of the woodwork and it involves connections from his show-business past.

A childhood friend from Bistek’s funnyman days who also happens to be the former chief security of the Quezon City vice mayor, has filed a case of robbery against Bistek, who is currently running as QC mayoralty candidate. In his complaint before the prosecutor’s office last week, Carlos De Leon, a businessman, charged Bautista of stealing his printing equipment worth P1.2 million inside his printing shop in Barangay Bahay Toro last year.

Actor De Leon’s lawyers said Bautista can be jailed if found guilty.

According to De Leon, the incident occurred in August 2009 when Bautista’s brother, Hero, allegedly pulled out the former’s expensive equipment from the businessman’s printing shop, the Cham Advertising, upon the order of the vice mayor.

The complainant said his FY 8180 III Infiniti Printer was taken by Hero without his knowledge. He explained the younger Bautista was able to move out the printer because he had possession of the key to the shop.

Since Hero is a friend, De Leon said he entrusted the key to the former who happens to run his own business, the Tri-Toma Billiards and Bar, at the building where Cham Advertising is located.

“When I asked Hero why he took away my printer, he arrogantly said the Vice Mayor ordered him to do so,” De Leon said. “Magdemanda ka na lang kung gusto mo,” the younger Bautista added, according to De Leon.

Until now, De Leon said he could not understand why Bautista stole his equipment, but revealed the vice mayor has been mistreating him at the time when he was still working for the official.

De Leon joined Bautista in the cast of a kiddie TV show “Kaluskos Musmos” many years ago. When Bautista entered politics, De Leon served as his chief security. However, the victim said Bautista treated him badly for reasons still unknown to him. “Hindi ko akalain na magagawa sa akin iyon ng magkapatid dahil malalim ang aming pinagsamahan,” De Leon said.

Such relationship, De Leon said, is the reason why he knows a lot about Bautista who allegedly keeps a lot of “dark secrets.”  He said he will reveal these secrets in due time.

Meanwhile, employees of Cham Advertising supported De Leon as they claimed to have witnessed the alleged stealing of the equipment by the Bautista brothers. The employees were identified as Jonnie Beleson, assitant printing machine operator; Rainer Lee San Diego, 24, graphic artist; Edward Sarenas, 19, graphic artist; and Eleanor Aquino, 24, secretary.

With such serious allegations rapping at Bistek’s door, it just goes to show that politics is no “laughing” matter.

4Minute Mania

K-pop fans from all over the Philippines can’t help but get overly excited for the first promo tour of the hottest K-pop girl group ever to hit Manila! 4Minute! The Philippine Promo tour of 4Minute is the first ever promotional tour of a Korean pop act where fans can gain more access to them through their highly anticipated mall shows!

Ji Hyun, Ga Yoon, Ji Yoon, Hyun A, So Hyun, collectively known as 4Minute make their way to Manila on Feb. 4-8 for a series of mall shows and autograph-signing sessions! (Feb. 5 – SM Mall of Asia 6 p.m., Feb. 6 – SM Megamall 5 p.m., and Feb. 7 – SM North EDSA 5 p.m.).

The momentum of 4Minute is rapidly increasing with their hits, endorsements and individual projects! 4Minute, who started their career April of last year has already received awards from their hometown namely Cyworld’s Rookie of the Month, Korea’s Cultural, Physical Education and Tourism Bureau: Rookie Music Award, SBS Power Rookie (August) and Golden Disk Awards Newcomer Award (shared with T-ara). 4Minute even beat Super Junior in Taiwan by hitting the number one spot in the country’s biggest music site, KKBOX.

Here in the Philippines, the group has gotten support from fans of all Korean groups nationwide! There are currently a total of 14 official K-pop fan clubs that also include that of Big Bang (www.bigbang.ph) and many others. The Official Fan Club of 4Minute, who call themselves 4Nias are a highly organized group of fan boys and fan girls who are very active in collecting anything and everything 4Minute! They meet each other through 4Minute’s official fan site in the Philippines, www.4minute.ph.

In line with their upcoming promo tour, MCA Music, who recently partnered with CUBE Entertainment in Korea that also houses K-pop boy band BEAST shall release the first mini-album of 4Minute entitled “For Muzik.” Their hits “Hot Issue,” “Muzik” and “What A Girl Wants” have all enjoyed heavy airplay by top music channels and radio stations – making the group one of the most popular Korean acts to ever hit the country.

Nourish your fandom hunger with the biggest promotional tour to start the year! Make way to the scheduled mall of your choice and get up close with 4Minute as they sing their hits, “Hot Issue,” “Muzik” and “What A Girl Wants” and more! Also, get your copy of Limited Tour Edition “For Muzik” albums at the venue and get the chance to have them signed by each member of 4Minute! Albums shall also come with a free tour poster, available at Odyssey and O Music stores nationwide!