Former child actor faces arrest

Actor Niño Muhlach could go back to jail for missing a hearing on the drug charges filed against him before a Quezon City court yesterday.

Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 79 Judge Rafael Lagos issued a verbal order for the release of an arrest warrant after Muhlach failed to appear on time for his 9 a.m. arraignment.

Clerk of Court Gildo Gorospe said Muhlach did not show up at the court even after the second call. Muhlach, he also said, arrived almost an hour after the schedule.

"The last case was already called, the court already adjourned (when he came). So the order for the issuance of the warrant against him stands. It could not be heard anymore for that day," Gorospe explained.

As of press time, however, the court is yet to issue an actual warrant of arrest order against Muhlach. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old actor has filed a motion before the court seeking to lift the arrest warrant.

Muhlach was charged with possession of illegal drugs before the Quezon City court after police recovered from him 1.9 grams of suspected shabu during an anti-illegal drug operation in a shopping mall in Quezon City last month.

Muhlach was detained for three days at the Camp Bagong Diwa following his arrest. He subsequently posted bail amounting to P200,000 for his temporary liberty.