No bail for American nat’l for detaining teen girlfriend

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office has recommended no bail against an American national who was arrested for allegedly detaining his 16-year-old girlfriend.

State Prosecutor Liceria Rabillas held Manolito Farrales, 70, for trial after finding probable cause for serious illegal detention.

Rabillas said that based on the evidence, the American national detained the minor by not allowing her to go outside his residence alone and without him to accompany her, which “deprived the latter’s liberty and freedom of movement.”

Farrales was arrested on November 27 this year.

The minor said she had been allegedly deprived of her liberty since Farrales return to the country from the United States on August 28, 2014. She said Farrales suspected her of having a sexual relationship with his driver while they were in a relationship.

The minor said she knew Farrales because the latter was his father’s employer. She later became his employee too.

In 2011, the girl said her father asked her to go to Cebu City to help him clean the house of Farrales. Since then, she said she has started living in the foreigner’s house.

According to the girl, her elder sister and Farrales first had a relationship. The two broke up some time in 2012 and three days after, the foreigner courted the girl through text message, which she also accepted. Farrales was in America at that time.

The 16-year-old said that while in a relationship with Farrales, the foreigner would always get jealous and when his “anger bursts,” he allegedly threatens and harms her physically.

She added she was not able to escape from the residence of the accused because her brother guarded her.

Investigation

On November 27, the minor went to Punta Princesa Police Station to lodge a complaint against Farrales’ driver who allegedly raped her.

She said Farrales was afraid that his driver would come back for her when he goes back to America.

During the interrogation, the teenager likewise confessed to the investigator her alleged ordeal in the hands of Farrales, leading to the foreigner’s arrest.

Meanwhile, Rabillas approved for preliminary investigation the complaints for physical, psychological and sexual abuses against Farrales. — Mylen P. Manto/NSA (FREEMAN)