By ABS-CBNnews.com and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Montenegro on Friday said she has filed a motion for inhibition against Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 in connection with the 14 counts of libel she had filed against Rama.

A hearing for the motion was set on Friday. But Montenegro’s lawyer, Atty. Maggie Abraham, said it was rescheduled to a later date.

“Ngayon dapat ihi-hear ‘yung motion namin for inhibition, for the court to inhibit itself from determining the case that was filed by my client against Annabelle Rama, doon sa 14 counts of libel,” Abraham told ABS-CBN News.

“But we received an order from the court that they will cancel the hearing today and will set it on August 13 instead. Kung natuloy sana yung hearing today, all the proceedings would be suspended dahil nga may pending incident, may pending motion,” Abraham added.
Annabelle Rama. File photo
Grounds for inhibition

Montenegro’s lawyer, however, refused to give details on the grounds for their motion.

“We would like to not state the details na lang muna for the grounds for the motion of inhibition in respect of the proceedings and of the honorable presiding judge as well,” Abraham said.

It can be recalled that the same branch of the Quezon City RTC issued a warrant of arrest against Rama last June 11 for her failure to attend the court hearings involving the 14 counts of libel that Montenegro filed.

But issuing judge Eleuterio Bathan recalled the warrants a week later, prompting Montenegro to express her dismay via microblogging site Twitter: “May MILAGRO na naman na nangyari (A miracle happened.) I’m gonna get to the bottom of this! #mgabayaran.”

Legal feud

The legal battle stemmed from Montenegro’s allegations of child abuse against Rama in relation to the talent manager’s way of handling her children’s showbiz careers.

Rama has also filed libel and perjury charges against one of Montenegro’s daughters and a former talent, Ynna. On Thursday, Ynna filed her counter-affidavit at a Makati court, where Rama filed the case.

Just recently, Rama’s P20-million libel case was dismissed by the Makati Prosecutor’s Office.

“Tuluy-tuloy parin,” Montenegro said of her legal battle with Rama. “I’m still hoping and praying. Buong-buo ‘yung tiwala ko sa ating korte, sa ating justice system, lalung-lalo ngayon na grateful kami na na-dismiss ‘yung libel [case] ni Ynna sa Makati. Hoping din na sunud-sunod na good news na nangyari.”