Aussie pleads not guilty to child abuse

CEBU, Philippines - The Australian accused of keeping minors as sex slaves in his house in Inayagan, Naga City, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment yesterday.

The accused assisted by his lawyer Cherry Mae Cabelte pleaded not guilty to violating Section 5, Paragraph (b) Article II of Republic Act 7610 or child-abuse.

The pre-trial of the case has been set for November 10, 2011.

Earlier, Judge Olegario Sarmiento of Regional Trial Court Branch 24 ordered that the 78-year-old accused be arraigned unless there was a motion to quash the information filed by his counsel.

Cabelte said the reason for her manifestation to the court to defer the scheduled arraignment was they were not informed until two days ago that another case against her client was raffled in Branch 24.

However, lawyer Jo-ann Pabriaga of Children’s Legal Bureau said it is not the obligation of the court to inform the defense counsel of this because she did not file a notice of appearance with the court.

“Attorney Cabelte was not subpoenaed because she has no appearance yet in Branch 24, it was the accused who was subpoenaed by the court and it is the obligation of the accused to inform his counsel,” Pabriaga said.

In all, nine cases were filed against the accused, eight cases were raffled to RTC Branch 22 handled by Judge Manuel Patalinghug. The accused has already pleaded not guilty to the qualified trafficking case and seven child abuse cases in Branch 22.

Pabriaga said they are open for the consolidation of the cases if the defense counsel will make a move.

The accused was arrested last July 20, 2011 by the Naga City Police for keeping girls aged 14, 15 and 17 as his alleged sex slaves.

It was believed the accused sent the girls to school and shouldered all their expenses.

The victims remain under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. — (FREEMAN)