Aiko wants peaceful end to libel case filed by ex-BF

Thursday, February 23, 2012

AMID the controversy caused by her past relationship, actress Aiko Melendez said she is still hoping that the libel case filed against her by former boyfriend Patrick Meneses will be resolved smoothly.

Melendez went to the Department of Justice on Wednesday to attend the preliminary investigation of the case, which stemmed from accusations that the actress orchestrated reports questioning Meneses's gender.

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"We always hope for the best that this case will end quietly, peacefully. We just want to move on," Melendez said.

Meneses's alleged lover Pandi Mayor Enrico Roque, meanwhile, filed a separate libel complaint against Melendez. He is seeking P5 million in damages from the former Quezon City councilor and three other individuals including entertainment writers Ogie Diaz and Pete Ampoloquio.

The case was filed in April 28 last year at the Malolos Regional Trial Court but Melendez asked the DOJ to transfer the proceedings in Manila to avoid a hometown decision. Meneses is the current mayor of Bulacan, Bulacan.

In response, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued an order on October 28 to hear the case in the department's main office in Manila.

During the hearing presided over by Assistant State Prosecutor Alexander Suarez, Melendez's lawyer Cesar Baluyot found out that the Bulacan Provincial Prosecutor's Office had already issued a resolution last November 25 absolving the actress and Diaz from the crime.

Melendez declined to comment yet on the latest development but Ampoloquio's counsel Argee Guevarra said there was irregularity in the issuance of the resolution because the DOJ ordered the transfer of venue of the preliminary probe.

Ampoloquio and co-accused Ronald Rafer were recommended to be charged for libel.

"We were not even furnished a copy of the resolution. There's something fishy in here," Guevarra said.

The next hearing is set on March 14. (Sunnex)