‘Ate Guy’ pleads not guilty in US

WASHINGTON — Movie star Nora Aunor pleaded not guilty in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday to a felony charge of illegal possession of methamphetamine — known as "ice" or "crystal meth" in the US and "shabu" in the Philippines.

A preliminary hearing of her case was set for May 26 at 8:30 a.m.

Dressed for her arraignment in a sharp business suit and looking composed, Aunor entered a plea of not guilty to "one felony count for simple possession of methamphetamine," her Filipino lawyer Claire Espina told reporters.

Aunor, Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life, was arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport terminal on March 30 in possession of eight grams of methamphetamine in her carry-on bag and a glass pipe wrapped in a T-shirt, according to press reports.

She was on her way back to her San Francisco Bay area home after a business trip to Los Angeles.

Aunor was released after posting $10,000 bail.

A press statement issued by Espina after the court proceedings said Aunor remains free to go about her business affairs, including concerts scheduled for April 30 in Reno, May 6 in Los Angeles and May 7 in Las Vegas.

Under the US legal system, a preliminary hearing is held after an arraignment to determine if there is enough evidence for the defendant to be "held over" for trial.

A defendant can choose between a jury trial or a court trial, in which the judge hears the evidence and arguments and decides whether the defendant is guilty or innocent of the charges he or she faces.

If convicted, Aunor could be jailed for up to a year then deported and barred from the United States, lawyers familiar with similar cases said.

"Generally speaking, a drug conviction could have an adverse effect on any immigrant status you have, even if you’re a green card holder," Aunor’s immigration lawyer, Lourdes Tancino, said.

Known as the "Superstar" to her fans, Aunor has appeared in more than 170 movies and recorded more than two dozen albums. — With AP