Nadia Montegro withdraws libel charge vs Annabelle Rama

Annabelle Rama and Nadia Montenegro INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—Saying she was no longer interested in pursuing the case, actress Nadia Montenegro has withdrawn the 14 counts of libel charges she lodged against talent manager Annabelle Rama in a Quezon City court.

Montenegro filed her two-page affidavit of desistance before Judge Ralph Lee of the Regional Trial Court Branch 83 on Wednesday.

Annabelle Rama reconciles with Nadia Montenegro

Montenegro, whose real name is Nadine Montenegro-Pla, said she decided to withdraw the case after a thorough re-examination and evaluation of the facts and circumstances.

“I hereby relinquish and forever release the said accused from any claims, civil or criminal, arising out of the facts related to the case…. I request the court to cause the dismissal of my complaint against the accused,” Montenegro said in her affidavit.

Montenegro had charged Rama with libel over allegedly defamatory messages she posted in her Twitter account from September to December 4, 2011.

Rama had been managing the showbiz careers of Montenegro’s minor-aged daughters.

Aside from the tweets, Rama allegedly issued statements against Montenegro in TV interviews in October and November 2011.

The case was first raffled off to Judge Eleuterio Bathan of Branch 92, but was reraffled to Lee’s sala following the failure of the Judicial Dispute Resolution proceedings between the parties to arrive at a settlement.

Lee’s staff said the court would still conduct hearings on Montenegro’s affidavit of desistance before formally acting on it.