Judge dismisses Nadia Montenegro’s libel case vs Annabelle Rama

Annabelle Rama and Nadia Montenegro. INQUIRER file photo

A judge has dismissed the multiple counts of libel filed against talent manager Annabelle Rama, formally granting former actress Nadia Montenegro’s request for the court to disregard her complaint.

Both women were involved in a public feud but they recently reconciled and agreed to drop the lawsuits they filed against each other in Metro Manila and Cebu City.

In his order, Judge Ralph Lee of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 junked the 14 counts of libel against Rama after Montenegro said in her affidavit of desistance that the filing of the case only arose from a misappreciation of the facts and that she was no longer interested in pursuing the lawsuit.

Montenegro earlier sued Rama in connection with the allegedly defamatory messages the latter posted in her Twitter account from September to December 2011.

The ex-actress also cited statements made by Rama against her in TV interviews which aired in October and November that same year.

The rift between the two showbiz personalities started when Montenegro claimed that Rama made her underage daughters work more than 40 hours in a week in violation of the law.

The talent manager defended herself in television interviews and through tweets on Twitter which, according to Montenegro, contained statements which were libelous. This was followed by an exchange of lawsuits in several courts between the two women.

Rama and Montenegro eventually reconciled in a June 5 meeting and decided to drop the charges they filed in court against each other.

Another court in Quezon City has yet to rule on a motion to dismiss the unjust vexation case Rama filed last year against Montenegro and her lawyer Marie Glen Abraham.

Last week, Rama appeared in court to affirm an affidavit of desistance she executed on June 7 for the withdrawal of the lawsuit.