Following an amicable settlement with an entertainment columnist, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court has junked the P2.8-million damage suit against actor Gabby Con-cepcion.

RTC Branch 96 Presiding Judge Afable Cajigal said he granted the motion to dismiss filed by Concepcion and Jobert Sucaldito after the two agreed to settle their differences.

The actor and Sucaldito filed the joint motion on Sept. 22, 2008, when they informed the court about their undertaking.

?An amicable settlement between parties is not only allowed by the court but is likewise encouraged to by the courts. To deny the amicable settlement will defeat the purpose of the law as well as the right of the parties to a speedy disposition of the case. As correctly pointed out by the movants, Concepcion is a mere necessary party,? Cajigal?s said.

Sucaldito sued Concepcion and his manager Rose Flaminiano after they allegedly reneged on their commitment to have the actor endorse a whitening product for a fee of P2.5 million and two sets of 56-inch plasma television.

Instead, the two entered a contract for Concepcion to endorse another whitening product for P5 million.

But Sucaldito apppeared to be bent on pursuing the suit against Concepcion?s handler.

Flaminiano shrugged off the hairsplitting, wondering how the court could strike off the complaint against her talent while allowing the case to proceed against his manager. Joel M. Sy Egco