Aiko on injury raps: not guilty

Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez entered a "not guilty" plea of the physical injury case filed against her by businesswoman Happy Ongpauco Rivera during her arraignment yesterday before a Makati City court.

"Not guilty Your Honor, for both charges," she told Branch 62 Judge Carlito Calpatura who scheduled a preliminary conference on April 18.

Rivera lodged physical injury charges against Melendez and her police escort, Senior Police Officer 1 Jun Rivera last year following a fight between the two in a bar in Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center.

Melendez, through her lawyer, attempted to postpone the arraignment citing a letter from Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez citing their motion questioning the findings of the Makati City prosecutor’s office which found probable cause to file the case in court.

The arraignment was originally set for Oct. 22, 2006 but was deferred when Calpatura approved Melendez’s motion to suspend the proceeding pending the resolution of that filed before the DOJ.

Prosecutor Noel Malaya opposed the move to postpone the arraignment, citing Article 116 of the Rules of Court which prohibits the suspension or deferment of any arraignment 60 days after the case is filed in court.

Calpatura agreed and set the arraignment as scheduled, saying the 60-day period as set by the Rules of Court was mandatory.

"I think this court has given you enough discretion and time since the last proceeding," he said. "This has been postponed several times though I am not prejudging whatever findings the Department of Justice would have on your motion."

However, the court urged both camps to avail of mediation through the Philippine Mediation Center to settle the case. Calpatura set a March 27 meeting.