MANILA, Philippines – Talent manager Annabelle Rama pleaded not guilty on Monday to 14 counts of libel lodged by Nadia Montenegro over the former’s allegedly malicious statements on Twitter and in television interviews.
The feisty Rama came early for her arraignment before Judge Eleuterio Bathan of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92. She entered not guilty 14 times for each criminal information of libel filed by Montenegro.
The court ordered both women to try to work things out before the Philippine Mediation Center as mandated by court rules.
The animosity between the two stemmed from a child abuse complaint that Montenegro filed against Rama over the latter’s handling of the showbiz careers of Montenegro’s two teenaged daughters.
The Quezon City prosecutors office eventually found probable cause to indict Rama for 14 counts of libel for her allegedly damaging tweets and statements on TV against Montenegeo.
“The court told us to talk and undergo mediation proceedings and submit a report on its results a month after,” said Rama’s lawyer, Howard Calleja, after the arraignment.
The arraignment came after Rama was ordered arrested by the court for her absence during her arraignment on June 11.
The arraignment came after Rama was ordered arrested by the court for her absence during her arraignment on June 11.
The talent manager voluntarily surrendered to the court a week later and the 14 arrest warrants against her were eventually recalled.
Calleja ushered Rama quickly into a waiting vehicle after the hearing and answered questions in her place.
“Everything is possible,” the lawyer replied when asked if a conciliation was possible between his client and Montenegro although he added that it was still too early to tell.
The 30-day mediation period means no hearings will be held by the court in the meantime.
But Montenegro, an ex-actress, firmly said no to the possibility of a settlement with Rama.
Accompanied by her own lawyer, Marie Glen Abraham, Montenegro said she will pursue the cases she filed against Rama.
“I am not open to any mediation, I am not open to any settlement, I am not open to anyone who will try to fix us,” she told reporters.
“We want her (Rama) to learn her lesson the hard way,” Montenegro added.
Abraham said the court-mandated mediation is a means to exhaust all possible remedies before the court trial proceeds.
“It’s really up to the parties,” the lawyer said of the mediation proceedings, which is yet to be set by the court.
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