Fiscal sets hearing on seduction case vs Freddie

MANILA, Philippines - A Quezon City prosecutor has set the hearing dates for the preliminary investigation a qualified seduction case filed by a lawyer against the 60-year-old folk singer for having a relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Investigating prosecutor Edgardo Saplala said yesterday he has signed the subpoena for the parties to attend the scheduled hearings regarding the complaint on Nov. 11 and 25.

An employee at the city prosecutor’s office said additional dates may be set later, depending on what will happen in the course of the preliminary investigation.

On Tuesday, lawyer Fernando Perito filed a complaint against Aguilar over his controversial relationship with the 16-year-old girl.

In his two-page complaint, Perito said that as a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, he has an obligation and duty to do what is right and prevent what is wrong.

In an interview with The STAR yesterday, Aguilar said he has yet to be notified of the complaint. He said he will represent himself in court as he knows there is no basis for the complaint.

“There are those who offered their services (for free) and I may call them if I feel that I need a lawyer,” he said in Filipino.

He maintained that there was no qualified seduction in their relationship, unlike in the case of Hollywood personality Woody Allen, who married the adopted daughter of his then partner. Allen was 56 when he admitted to having a relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, then 21, in 1992.

“He was the guardian of the girl... that’s qualified seduction,” he said.

Aguilar noted that Allen’s case did not get bad publicity like the one that he is experiencing now. He earlier said that his girlfriend was hurt with the filing of complaint. He added, however, that the controversy has strengthened their relationship.

“The public must know that we have been in a relationship for six months now,” he said. “My family accepts her, and her family accepts me.”