Judge issues new arrest order vs Niño Muhlach

A new warrant of arrest against former child star Niño Muhlach was issued Friday morning after the latter failed to arrive on time for his arraignment on drug charges before a Quezon City court. QC Regional Trial Court Branch 79 Presiding Judge Rafael Lagos also ordered the forfeiture of the P200,000 cash bond which Muhlach had posted for his temporary liberty. Muhlach, Angelo Jose Muhlach in real life, was nowhere to be found inside the court even after his case of violation of Section 11 Article 11 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) was called for the second time. Assistant city prosecutor Hector Buenaluz then asked the court to issue the warrant of arrest which Judge Lagos immediately granted. The actor arrived before the court adjourned. Judge Lagos, however, did not entertain him. Muhlach arrived without his lawyer, Gina Garcia. He instead sought the help of lawyer Winston Gayapa of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) who advised him to file a motion to lift the warrant. Gayapa said that Muhlach should file the motion within the day in order to prevent the actor from being arrested. He advised Muhlach to indicate in his motion why he failed to arrive on time for his arraignment. "Once the motion is filed within the day, Muhlach would not be arrested even the judge would not act on it immediately," Gayapa explained. For his part, Muhlach said the fan belt of his vehicle was severed while he was on his way to the court. "Tumawag naman ako sa mga court staff na darating ako at sinabi ko sa kanila na nagkaroon ng aberya ang sasakyan ko," Muhlach said. He added his lawyer was not able to accompany him in court due to an earlier commitment. "My arraignment was originally scheduled last April 10 but it was reset to April 13, so hindi na puwede ma-cancel ang prior commitment ng abogado ko," said Muhlach. Muhlach was arrested inside a fastfood in Libis, Quezon City last March 13 for alleged illegal possession of shabu. The court rescheduled Muhlach’s arraignment on May 7. - GMANews.TV