Kidnap suspect, 17, attends graduation ceremony

CEBU, Philippines - Regional Trial Court Branch 6 Judge Ester Veloso granted yesterday the very urgent motion to allow a minor accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention to attend his graduation ceremony today.

Veloso granted the motion filed by lawyer Danilo Yap, counsel of the 17-year-old boy. The judge, however, ordered an escort for the 17-year-old suspect.

Veloso said that after the accused attends his graduation at Babag National High School in Lapu-lapu City, he must be returned to jail.

Yap said that his client is qualified and included in the list of the Babag National High School graduating students for the school year 2010-2011 as certified by principal Jeaneth Berame.

Yap had asked the court to allow his client to attend his graduation at 8:00 a.m. today, duly escorted and without handcuffs, by the personnel of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and be returned immediately after the commencement exercises.

Yap said his client was able to take the final examination.

Yap claimed that his client’s case stemmed from an incident when his girlfriend did not go home and slept in his house instead.

“Tungod kay nag-uwan adto na time then silingan ra usab sila, wala papulia sa akong client ang iyang uyab kay gabii nasad unya gikiha nuon akong client sa papa sa babaye,” Yap said. (It was raining and very late already, my client told his girlfriend not to go home. The girl’s father filed a case against him.) (FREEMAN)