It’s a girl for Aiko

Aiko Melendez gave birth by caesarian section to a girl, her first baby by husband Martin Jickain, yesterday, 7:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Medical Center. The baby, whom the couple named Marthena, weighs eight pounds and looks just like Martin.

Meanwhile, Aiko issued a press statement regarding what she called was the "spate of erroneous reports that have been published following the issuance of a May 4 resolution of the Office of the City Prosecutor" regarding her case against Happy Ongpauco-Rivera, Ronald Serrano (for Grave Oral Defamation, Intriguing Against Honor and Unjust Vexation) and the case on Serrano et. al vs. Melendez et. al for physical injuries, slander/oral defamation and other light threats and Ongpauco-Rivera vs. Melendez for slander/oral defamation and other light threats.

Excerpts from Aiko’s statement:

Malicious or not, the inaccurate information being perpetrated by these reports are causing me and my family considerable torment. For this reason, I wish to correct the misimpressions being circulated by people who wish no more than to harass me.

Contrary to statements released by other parties, no court has issued any judgment finding my innocence or guilt regarding the aforementioned consolidated case.

Investigating Prosecutor Andres N. Marcos only recently concluded the preliminary investigation for the said case. Subsequently, he issued a resolution dated May 4, 2006, finding probable cause to hold me for trial for two counts of slight physical injuries, pursuant to complaints filed by Happy Rivera and Alana Montelibano. Said resolution, however, is still under review by Prosecutor Edgardo Hirang in line with the timely Motion for Reconsideration dated July 10, 2006 we have filed in said case, interposing patently meritorious grounds for its re-examination.

Let it be said that I never provoked the other party’s hostility, nor do I deserve the same. If I can be faulted for anything, it is only that I wanted to protect my name and reputation. Neither have I, in any manner, abused my authority as a public official to gain advantage over the other party prior to or during the hearings in the aforementioned case. I have comported myself professionally at all times and it comes as a surprise that they are now baselessly and self-servingly accusing me of abusing my position. This is patently untrue and I challenge anyone who claims otherwise to show proof of such abuse."

The case stemmed from an incident at Novu when Aiko allegedly elbowed Rivera inside the bar. When she returned from the comfort room, Aiko allegedly kicked the chair of Rivera’s friend.

Aiko has denied the charges and added that a companion of Rivera even touched her breasts at the bar. – Maridol Rañoa-Bismark