John Michael Pio Roda: Chris Brown’s Promoter Accused of Fraud in Philippines

Chris Brown’s promoter John Michael Pio Roda has denied claims he defrauded an influential religious sect in the Philippines.

John Michael Pio Roda denied receiving over $1 million from the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) for a December 31 concert hosted by the sect for which Chris Brown failed to show up.

The promoter has been held at the capital’s Bureau of Immigration detention facility for nearly two weeks.

His legal counsel described his arrest as “Gestapo-like”.

Chris Brown failed to attend the show in question due to a lost passport.

Iglesia-linked local concert producers Maligaya Development Corp. have asked the justice department to file criminal fraud charges against Chris Brown and John Michael Pio Roda, saying they had been advanced their million-dollar fee.

John Michael Pio Roda’s lawyers said in a statement: “To hold Mr. Pio Roda accountable for the entire one million dollars… is not only without legal or factual basis but is a travesty of justice and a continued violation of human rights.”

They said John Michael Pio Roda, in fact, received $45,000 and that he and Chris Brown received another $578,750 in advance from another company.

Chris Brown was stopped from leaving the Philippines by the immigration bureau for three days in July over the row, having returned to play another show.

Although Chris Brown was later allowed to the leave the country, the fraud complaint hearings against the singer will proceed.