Helper accused of arson pleads not guilty to crime

CEBU, Philippines - The helper accused of setting fire to the house of her employer in Barangay Banilad, resulting in the death of another helper, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

Aubrey Soria, 22, assisted by her lawyer, denied the charges filed against her for qualified arson before Judge Simeon Dumdum of Regional Trial Court Branch 7.

Soria's plea was contrary to her earlier statement before the media admitting to the crime.

However, she told the media yesterday she was only forced to by somebody to admit to the crime.

She refused to identify that somebody.

In a separate interview, her employer retired colonel Mariano Parcon said he was shocked by the plea of the accused.

“I was shocked when she pleaded not guilty because she already admitted it before the media…as I observed she was the doer of the crime,” he said.

Earlier, the Cebu City Prosecutor's Office elevated the case to the court after finding probable cause and witnesses pointed to Soria as the alleged assailant.

One of the witnesses, Eduardo Omandac said last February 22 he was awakened by his live-in partner Loida Vecide when an unidentified woman sought for assistance and look for Holy Family Village.

He added the woman told him that she was from Day-as, Cordova and came to the place onboard a taxi. But no cabs could get there at the time, Omandac said, because of the fire in Holy Family Village.

She later escaped, leaving her bag behind after he would not give it to her.

Earlier, Soria admitted before the media that she did not intend to set fire to the house and that she only wanted to burn her employment contract to erase her tracks after she stole money from Parcon.

Soria was arrested in Minglanilla town a few hours that same day.  (FREEMAN)