Church asks court not to release former accountant from jail

CEBU, Philippines - The Sacred Heart Parish Church is asking the court to deny the request of its former accountant to post bail in relation to a case of qualified theft the latter was found guilty of.

The court earlier found Evelyn “Dadang” Mercader guilty of 12 counts of qualified theft for stealing church funds amounting to over half a million pesos and sentenced her to 40 years in prison.

However, Mercader was not around when the court handed down its ruling, and was only arrested when she went to court supposedly to follow-up on the case. It appeared that she never knew about the court’s decision.

She then filed an omnibus motion for leave to avail of the legal remedies available to her and asked that she be freed temporarily while the court resolves her motion.

Sacred Heart’s lawyers, however, are vehement in their opposition.

Lawyers Thaddeus Alvizo and John Patrick Cabrera asked Judge Simeon Dumdum, Jr., of Regional Trial Court Branch 7 to deny Mercader’s request because she was already found guilty of the charges. 

“Herein accused has no standing to file the instant motion to post bail,” their opposition reads.

“It is axiomatic that the right to bail flows from the presumption of innocence of an accused. After conviction by the trial court, the presumption of innocence terminates and, accordingly, the constitutional right to bail ends,” the opposition reads further.

Mercader reportedly stole P557,650 from the church while she was bookkeeper and accountant for nearly 20 years. She was reportedly in charge of recording the monthly income from the church collection and expenses.

Based on the minutes of the parish’s financial committee meeting, Mercader admitted that she took P800, 000 from the parish but promised to return it.

She, however, changed tune and denied the allegations in her testimony in court.

Mercader reportedly grew up in the parish compound. She was granted a college scholarship and, after she earned a degree, was hired as the parish’s bookkeeper and was later promoted to accountant.  (FREEMAN)