Lawyer on CA Order: No Need to Arrest Willie, He Already Posted Bail

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Source: www.gmanetwork.com

Willie Revillame’s lawyer clarified that the television host has already posted bail for charges of child abuse and child exploitation, even before the Court of Appeals’ decision to uphold a trial court’s warrant of arrest against him.

“He has posted bail after the criminal information was filed by the city prosecutor for Quezon City. In effect, there is no need for a warrant of arrest,” Revillame’s legal counsel Nards De Vera told GMA News Online.

News reports indicated that the CA ruling ordered Revillame’s arrest, which his camp is seeking to clarify.

ALSO READ: Willie Revillame Ordered Arrested over Child Abuse Case

“We want to correct that misimpression that the court of appeals has ordered his arrest. What the CA said that it is okay for the RTC to issue a warrant of arrest so that Willie could be arraigned,” said the lawyer.

In the decision penned by Associate Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla dated September 7, 2015, the appeals court’s 13th division held up the warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Roberto P. Buenaventura for Revillame’s arrest because of probable cause.

“When the CA made the decision, it only merely said that the judge was correct in finding the probable cause,” De Vera said.

The lawyer also said the new development would allow Revillame to have his day in court.

“Let the trial proceed so that the government can prove its case and Willie can exercise his right in the trial. That’s all it meant,” he said.

“I hope we would emphasize is what the CA is saying is you may proceed for the trial so that the guilt or innocence of Willie can be determined by the court.

“So now we will proceed with the trial.”

‘No evidence of child abuse’

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) filed the complaint for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office after receiving complaints about an incident in Revillame’s defunct show “Willing Willie” that featured a six-year-old boy performing gyrating dance moves in 2011.

But De Vera defended his client, saying there is no evidence supporting the charges.

“There is no evidence that there was child abuse. Number one the child, the mother, the father, never complained. In fact sabi nila they are very grateful dahil na boost ‘yung confidence nung bata… Nakakatuwaan siya ng mga tao,”

“We’ll just proceed with the case and we are confident that the evidence will show that there is no truth to the complaint filed against Willie.”