Court cites Ivler's ma for contempt

MANILA, Philippines - A court has cited Marlene Aguilar-Pollard in contempt for challenging to a fistfight the judge hearing the murder case against her son, Jason Ivler, during a hearing last month.

In an April 15 order, Judge Bayani Vargas of Regional Trial Court Branch 219 ordered Aguilar-Pollard to pay a P20,000 fine for being guilty of indirect contempt for challenging him to fistfight, “coupled with libelous remarks, which has the effect of degrading the administration of justice in the trial of Ivler.”

Vargas warned Aguilar-Pollard that he would send her to jail over “any similar actuation” in the future.

The order came after the prosecution asked that Aguilar-Pollard be cited for indirect contempt after her outburst during the March 23 hearing. Aguilar-Pollard challenged Vargas to a fistfight after the judge refused to have Ivler excused from the hearing that day.

Court staff said Aguilar-Pollard has not yet paid the fine as of yesterday.

Ivler is facing murder charges for allegedly killing Renato Victor Ebarle Jr., son of a former Malacañang official, in a road rage incident on Nov. 18, 2009 in Quezon City.