Niño Muhlach pleads not guilty to drug rap

Actor Niño Muhlach, former child wonder of Philippine cinema, entered Monday a not guilty plea on illegal drug possession charges as his legal troubles dragged on nearly two months after his arrest. Accompanied by his lawyer Gina Garcia, Muhlach finally underwent arraignment proceedings at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court-Branch 79 for allegedly violating Section XI, Article XI of Republic Act 9165. Muhlach, or Angelo Jose Muhlach in real life, skipped his previously scheduled April 13 arraignment as he arrived late at the court. He blamed car problems for his tardiness. This time, Garcia asked Presiding Judge Rafael Lagos to postpone the arraignment, saying the Muhlach camp had already filed a motion for reinvestigation. However, government prosecutor Hector Buenaluz blocked the request as he insisted that the motion was filed beyond the five-day grace period to submit pleadings after charges have been mounted against the accused. Lagos denied the Garcia's request and pushed through with the arraignment. The pre-trial was set on July 27. The judge had previously sanctioned Muhlach for skipping the April 13 arraignment. He issued a fresh arrest warrant and canceled the P200,000-bail that the actor earlier posted. Muhlach then asked the Public Attorney's Office to cancel the arrest order. Last March 13, police operatives arrested Muhlach inside a supermarket in Libis, Quezon City after he allegedly received 1.9 grams of shabu from an unidentified female companion. The police said Muhlach did not resist arrest. - GMANews.TV