Court resets hearing versus “cult leader”

CEBU, Philippines - The court has reset the first hearing of the serious illegal detention case against alleged cult leader Casiano Apduhan Jr. because the judge handling the case was not available.

RTC Branch 59 Judge Hermes Montero in Toledo City could not attend to the hearing yesterday because he has a fever, prompting the clerk of court to reschedule it for October 21.

The prosecution was supposed to present yesterday its first witness on the serious illegal detention case against Apduhan.

Montero earlier ordered to proceed with the trial proper after it dismissed the motion for judicial determination of probable cause filed by Apduhan. 

Apduhan was accused of illegally detaining Emma Nepomuceno for more than five years since November 27, 2008 until March 6, 2014.

Nepomuceno was reportedly detained by Apduhan in his mansion in Laray 3, Barangay Buanoy, Balamban. She was rescued by the operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Provincial Women's Commission on March 6, 2014.

Apduhan was also arrested during the rescue operation. The alleged victim, however, executed an affidavit attesting that she was not detained by Apduhan and that her staying in the mansion was out of her own volition.

Aside from serious illegal detention, Apduhan is also facing illegal possession of firearms, murder, child abuse, and human trafficking charges.-(FREEMAN)