Lawyer denies asking money from Americans

CEBU, Philippines - Lawyer Leilani Villarino, whom two American nationals accused of asking P200,000 in relation to a case the Cebu City Police Office filed against the foreigners, denied the accusation.

“I vehemently deny that I attempted to ask P200,000 from American nationals Michael Lopez and Andre Breeding,” Villarino stressed in an interview with The Freeman.

She said she only appeared at the prosecutor’s office during the inquest proceedings of the two American Nationals, wherein she appeared as counsel for Breeding to make sure that the case the police would file is not human trafficking, which is non-bailable.

Villarino added she made sure that their case would be a violation of Republic Act 7610 or the law against child abuse, as she believed that Breeding was innocent.

“Breeding told me they only visited their friend Perry McNeely in the hotel and as a friend of him I appeared to make sure they will not be sued for human trafficking,” Villarino said.

Villarino said this is her first time to be accused of extortion in her eight years of law practice.

In fact, she said Breeding did not pay her acceptance fee of P50,000 and appearance fee at the prosecutor’s office of P1,500.

Villarino said she did not know where the two American Nationals got the money to pay their P24,000 bail, as another lawyer represented them in court after the case was elevated.

Villarino also alleged that the two Americans paid the private complainants not to appear in the hearings, so their case was dismissed.

“Breeding told me that because I asked them about their case,” Villarino said.

Lopez and Breeding filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas against eight police officers for kidnapping, arbitrary detention, soliciting or accepting bribe, abuse of authority and conduct unbecoming of a law enforcement officer.

Villarino’s name was mentioned in the complaint as having asked them P200,000 to be paid to the accused police officers and also as bond for their child abuse case. – (FREEMAN)