Nora Aunor lawyer contradicts PNoy’s claim that the Superstar was convicted of drug possession

Nora Aunor’s lawyer says the Superstar was never convicted and did not undergo drug rehabilitation in Los Angeles.
Superstar Nora Aunor’s lawyer reacts to President Benigno Aquino III’s statement that the actress was removed from National Artists nominees for being convicted on drugs.Nilinaw ng abugado ni Nora Aunor na hindi na-convict sa kasong possession of drugs ang tinaguriang Superstar, salungat sa tinuran ni Pangulong Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III sa kanyang pahayag ngayong araw, July 1.

Ayon kay PNoy, nagdesisyon siyang tanggalin ang pangalan ni Nora sa listahan ng mga hihiranging National Artists dahil na-convict daw ang aktres dahil sa droga noon.

SHE SAYS. Ilang oras pagkatapos lumabas ng pahayag ni PNoy sa media, nag-post ng mensahe sa Facebook ang abugado ni Nora na si Atty. Claire Navarro Espina—na nakabase sa Los Angeles, California—at nilinaw na hindi na-convict kailanman ang Superstar.

Aniya: “NO DRUG CONVICTION — ONCE AGAIN: Nora Aunor was never convicted of a crime, let alone a crime involving drugs here in Los Angeles.

“I should know—I was the attorney who represented her.”

Dagdag pa nito: “Apparently misinformation over in the Philippines on this issue.”

Sinabi rin ng abugado sa isang comment na ipinahanap niya ang file para mabigyang-linaw ang isyu.

“I decided to order the file from storage and just address this issue na lang from public records.

“I do NOT understand why the communications staff of PNoy would permit something like this to happen,” saad ni Atty. Espina.

Upang mas malinawan ang lahat tungkol sa isyung ito, nakipag-ugnayan ang PEP kay Atty. Espina sa pamamagitan ng direct messaging sa Facebook ngayong araw, July 1.

Sa kanyang sagot ay ipinaliwanag niya kung paano naabsuwelto si Nora sa drug possession case na kinaharap nito noong 2005.

saad ni Atty. Espina, “I entered Nora in a diversion program.

“She was not jailed. She did not undergo drug rehabilitation. She did not go into drug detoxification.

“She was free to attend to her then very active concert and touring schedule.

She underwent over 40 random drug tests, which she passed.

“After successfully completing diversion, the case was dismissed.”

Diin pa ng abugado, “There was NEVER ANY RECORD OF A CONVICTION HAVING BEEN ENTERED AGAINST HER.

“If that is the basis of the denial of the award, the conviction, then the president was misinformed.

“There never was and there never has been any such conviction.”

NO DRUG REHABILITATION. Sa mga report na lumabas noong 2007, iniulat na isa sa mga dahilan ng pagkakaabsuwelto ni Nora ay dahil sumailalim daw ang aktres sa six-month drug rehabilitation program.

Subalit nilinaw ni Atty. Espina na hindi kinailangang sumailalim sa drug rehabilitation ng kanyang kliyente.

“She was initially enrolled in a different program called drug court—because if she completes it—even the record of the arrest would be expunged [erased].

“She opted out of the drug court because she needed to travel for her concerts. So, she never went through any rehabilitation process.”

“Sometimes, the reports and how reporters interpret technical terms becomes an issue.

Rehabiliation is a live in facility, which is stringent. NORA WAS NEVER IN SUCH A FACILITY.

“She went through random drug testing, yes. She went through counseling sessions, yes. But Drug Rehabilitation—no.”

Dagdag niya, “California offers several non-punitive programs.

“Nora was never convicted, otherwise her green card would never have been issued.”

BACKSTORY. Sa isang report ng PEP noong 2007, nakasaad na naabsuwelto si Nora sa kasong drug possession na isinampa laban sa kanya ng isang Los Angeles, California court.

Matatandaang naaresto ang Superstar sa Los Angeles International Airport noong March 2005 matapos umano siyang mahulihan ng walong gramo ng metamphetamine (mas kilala saw tawag na “shabu”) at paraphernalia sa kanyang bag.

Sa preliminary hearing noong May 2005, nagdeklara ng “not guilty” plea si Nora, kasama si Atty. Espina bilang kanyang kinatawan.

Matapos magpahayag ng “not guilty” plea, nagpiyansa rin umano ang aktres ng $10,000.