PWC confident on case against Apduhan

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Welfare Commission has expressed confidence in today’s hearing on the illegal detention case against the alleged “cult leader” Casiano ‘Tatay Boy’ Apduhan.

Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, co-chairman of the PWC, disclosed that three ‘credible’ witnesses would be presented in the hearing at the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City.

She has also requested Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac, director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, to send some members to escort the witnesses.

“We are ready. We will be sending 17, including witnesses. I also wrote a letter to Gillamac requesting members to escort. Ang atong mga testigo, present gyod, nakakita gyod sila nga gwardyado, naa gyod siya (the victim) sa sulod,” she added referring to the ‘guarded’ house of Apduhan.

Apduhan is facing a charge of serious illegal detention for allegedly detaining a 33-year-old Emma Nepomuceno for five years.

Magpale earlier reported that the victim returned to the compound of Apduhan at Barangay Buanoy in Balamban town after she was released from the custody of the PWC which worried its members since it may weaken the illegal detention case.

“We are not discouraged. We want to prove that we were right in rescuing her. We have very credible witnesses. These are the former members of the cult. Among buhaton sa PWC ang tanan, as per evidence nga among nakit-an,” she said.

Yesterday, the camp of Apduhan filed a motion for extension to file a counter-affidavit before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for the complaints of murder, child abuse and violation of expanded anti-trafficking in persons act for forced labor.

 Lawyer Danilo Yap said they are asking the Prosecutor’s Office an additional ten more days to file their counter-affidavit. Today is the supposed deadline of their submission of their counter-affidavit.

 â€œI already prepared the counter-affidavit of Apduhan. However, the said counter-affidavit did not bear the signature of Apduhan, and because of time issues and considering he was detained in Toledo City and the document has to be subscribed by a fiscal, we asked for an extension,” he explained.

 Yap said that aside from asking for an extension, they are also asking for the inhibition of state prosecutor Arnulfo Amodia from resolving the complaints.

 He said considering it was Amodia who recommended the filing of illegal possession of firearms and serious illegal detention cases against his client before the court, there is now bias in resolving the complaints for murder, child abuse and expanded anti-trafficking in persons act.  Thus, they are seeking that the complaints be remanded before the Office of the Regional State Prosecutor.

Amodia earlier elevated the cases of illegal possession of firearms and serious illegal detention before the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City, which is now subject of the motion for judicial determination of probable cause.

 Yap said there is no evidence against his client.

 On March 26, 2014, Apduhan together with his driver, Victor Fajardo were arrested by the members of the National Bureau of Investigation-7 led by supervising agent Rey Villordon by virtue of a warrant of arrest.

 The warrant covered the exhumation of the remains of a 15-year-old boy, Angelo Repuela, buried deep inside a 30-foot tunnel under the house of Apduhan and for the rescue of Nepomuceno.

Yap, however, said that based on the testimony of Nepomuceno, she was not illegally detained by the Apduhan.  (FREEMAN)