MANILA, Philippines – Actor Redmond Christopher “Cogie” Domingo has filed a estafa case against film director Gil Portes for allegedly defrauding him of P150,000 as payment for a movie he made in 2006.

Portes entered a plea of “not guilty” during the arraignment of the estafa case on July 17 before Judge J. Cedrick Ruiz of the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 61.

Judge Ruiz set the pre-trial conference for Aug. 25. He also issued a subpoena requiring Domingo, who was absent at the arraignment, to appear at the pre-trial to determine the possibility of a plea bargain.

Asked for comment, Portes sent this statement to Inquirer: “My lawyer advised me not to talk about the issue because it is now under litigation. The case is also being reviewed by the justice department.”

In Domingo’s complaint filed in January, the actor alleged the director misappropriated what was supposed to be the actor’s fee for his role in the black comedy “Mourning Girls.”

Domingo said Portes received P150,000 in trust from a certain Zenaida Fernandez.

But Portes allegedly took the money for his personal use despite demands made by Domingo. During the preliminary investigation, Assistant City Prosecutor Gaudencio Tolledo Jr. found probable cause to charge Portes and recommended a bail of P40,000 for the director’s conditional liberty.

“Mourning Girls,” that starred Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Assunta de Rossi and Glydel Mercado, was Portes’ entry to the 2006 Metro Manila Film Festival. Portes also made the 2002 independent movie “Mga Munting Tinig (Small Voices)” that won as Best Picture at the Star, Famas and Urian Awards.

Domingo starred in the 2000 film “Deathrow” and the first two “Mano Po” movies in 2002 and 2003. With Marinel Cruz