Celebrity talent manager Annabelle Rama said she will start visiting barangays next week to test the waters of public opinion about her plan to run for congress in Cebu City’s north district.
Yesterday, she brought her showbiz fight with actress Nadia Montenegro to her home turf.
She filed a criminal complaint of libel in Cebu against actress Nadia Montenegro (10 counts), actress Amalia Mulach who is popularly known as Amalia Fuentes (8 counts) and reporter Chito Alcid (7 counts) for allegedly insulting her on Twitter and Facebook.
Asked why she is filing the cases here against her Manila-based adversaries, Annabelle said “kay taga Cebu man ko.” (because I am a resident of Cebu.) and indicated that she had better chances with impartial judges in Cebu.
For her political battle, she said she would start joining Team Rama’s barangay sorties in the 48 north district barangays next week.
She cited Rahman Street in barangay Zapatera as the address in her libel complaint.
“Sa Manila feeling ko lang mas malakas si Nadia. Sa Quezon City kasi simpleng libel lang daug dayon siya. Wala gani proof, walang ebedensya daug gihapon sya,” Annabelle added..
(I believe Nadia is more influential in Manila. In Quezon City, even for a simple libel case without evidence they managed to win.)
Annabelle was accompanied by her brother barangay Basak San Nicolas captain George Rama, lawyer Delon Richel Ramon Urot, and former Cebu City councilor Jocelyn Pesquera to the Cebu city prosecutor’s office.
Before the filing, Rama held a press conference at a restaurant, flanked by husband Eddie Gutierrez, son Elvis and grandchildren Lorin and Venice who are daughters of actress Ruffa Gutierrez.
With the blessings of her family, Annabelle said she will start visiting Cebu city barangays next week to see how residents respond to her political plans.
Her brother George said his objection to her running is the remaining “1 percent” in the certainty of his sister’s decision.
He said she would lose substantial income from her Manila career.
Rama said she will make a formal announcement about her political plans after she tests the waters.
“Uban uban lang usa ko nila ni Mike para lang ma feel ko. Ug ganahan sila nako ako ipadayon akong plano. Ug dili gani dili sad. October pa man ang filing,” she said.
(I will just tag along with Mayor Mike Rama so people can feel my presence. If people don’t like me, I will not pursue my plan. Anyway, the filing of a Certificate of Candidacy is still in October.)
Rama, who used to be the talent manager of Montenegro’s children, is facing charges for 14 counts of libel filed by Montenegro in a Quezon City court. Fuentes also lodged complaints against Rama for 11 counts of libel in the city prosecutor’s office.