Mom jailed for snubbing court

CEBU, Philippines -  For failing to appear on her scheduled court date, a woman was arrested and detained at the Fuente Police Station yesterday.

The arrest was made by virtue of a bench warrant issued byJudge Anatalio Necesario against Luciana Hernani Cadungog, 61, of Purok 4, Lower Kamputhaw, Cebu City.

The warrant was issued after Cadungog failed to show up last May 16 for the hearing of a BP 22 or bouncing check case which she faced after failing to pay for her son’s obligations to PJH Lending where she signed as co-maker.

According to Cadungog, she had a scheduled trip to Cagayan with her sister on the same date but automatically showed up in court when she arrived in Cebu.

Cadungog said the case stemmed from the money her son borrowed from PJH Lending Corporation in 2007 which was used to finalize documents so her son could fly to Dubai and find a job.

Cadungog said the contract lasted for two years but her son paid only P72,000 instead of the P80,000 he owed PJH Lending Corporation plus P45,000 in interest charges.

Years after, Cadungog said she was no longer able to contact her son and found out that her son has married. She traced her daughter-in-law and called a couple of times but her calls were rejected.

Cadungog said she is unemployed and only depends on her son’s income and her mother’s pension worth P1,400.00 per month.

Cadungog told The FREEMAN that her three children are doing their best to pay the remaining P8,000.00 plus interest worth P45,000.00

The court later ordered her release from jail. — (FREEMAN)