The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended the filing of 14 counts of libel against talent manager Annabelle Rama for the allegedly malicious comments she made about former actress Nadia Montenegro on Twitter and in interviews she gave on show biz talk shows last year.
In addition, Rama also faces two counts of unjust vexation and grave oral defamation.
Assistant City Prosecutor Diovie Macaraig-Calderon, however, dismissed the allegations of child abuse, slander by deed and attempted physical injuries against Rama for lack of probable cause.
On the other hand, Montenegro herself was not spared as Calderon also recommended the filing of unjust vexation charges against her.
According to Calderon, all the elements of libel were present since Rama’s statements were made in public and could also be read on her Twitter account.
The charges and counter-charges made by both women stemmed from Montenegro’s initial accusation that Rama made her two daughters who were both minors work more than 40 hours a week and even during school hours.
Montenegro also claimed that her daughters’ contract with Rama was only for three years although she learned later on that it was extended to five years.
Rama, meanwhile, countered by posting comments on Twitter against Montenegro on 11 different instances.
Montenegro reacted by calling the comments malicious and sued the talent manager for libel. She also filed additional charges for statements Rama made during interviews with three show biz talk shows on GMA 7 and ABS-CBN.
In her defense, Rama said the libel charges were just products of Montenegro’s imagination and intended to harass her.