Magpale, NBI agent testify vs ‘cult leader’

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and a National Bureau of Investigation agent testified as witnesses in serious illegal detention case against alleged cult leader Casiano Apduhan of Balamban town yesterday afternoon.

Magpale stated her testimonies in front of Judge Hermes Montero of RTC Branch 59 in Toledo City in a preliminary hearing of the case.

The vice governor explained in court that she was just doing the duty as being the chairman of Provincial Women’s Commission upon the office’s receipt of a complaint from the mother of a certain Emma Nepomuceno.

Emma was allegedly detained in the villa of Apduhan at Laray 3, Buanoy, Balamban for almost five years.

Magpale added that at first, the PWC conducted surveillance in the house of Apduhan to verify the complaint.

When the surveillance yielded positive results, they then conducted an operation led by the NBI-7 and Special Weapons and Tactics by virtue of a warrant of arrest last March 14, 2014.

On the said date, Emma was rescued by the authorities while Apduhan was arrested.

Meanwhile, supervising NBI agent Rey Villordon, the second witness, narrated how they rescued Emma in Apduhan’s villa.

Villordon insisted his statement on the affidavit that Emma was detained because of the padlocks found outside the house and the steel grills in the windows, making it hard for them enter.

He also testified that there was a trap door upstairs before they reached the second floor of the villa where Emma was allegedly detained.

From previous court hearing, Emma said she was not detained and it was her own will to stay in Apduhan’s house, refusing to push through with the case of serious illegal detention.

But Magpale wanted to pursue the case against Apduhan.

“Padayon gihapon ang kaso kay aduna may mga lain pang ebidensya,” Magpale said in an interview.

After the hearing, Emma was seen emotional outside the court, shedding tears while insisting that she was not detained.

Prosecutor Jasmin Despi would present another witness on December 2 to testify on the same case.

Aside from serious illegal detention, Apduhan is also facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and murder. — (FREEMAN)