Alleged blackmailer pleads not guilty

CEBU, Philippines - A man who allegedly demanded money from a minor in exchange for not posting her nude photos on the Internet has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.

During his arraignment yesterday, John Jayson Antonio, 25, who was charged with grave threats and child abuse, pleaded not guilty before Judge Ester Veloso of Regional Trial Court Branch 6. He was assisted by his lawyer Reynaldo Menchavez.

His bail was set at P24,000 for grave threats and P80,000 for child abuse.

Veloso said the court cannot give due course to the motion for reduction of bail filed by the mother of the accused, Cindy Antonio.

She directed the counsel to file a proper motion as the mother of the accused has no legal personality to file a motion.

Earlier, Prosecutor Mario Ley Gidayawan elevated the two cases to court after the accused waived his right to a preliminary investigation to answer the allegations.

The accused was arrested during an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation-7 last March 6, in one of the malls in Cebu City.

The accused allegedly demanded money from a 16-year-old Japanese-Filipino, a resident of Mandaue City.

Based on the account of the victim, she said she met the accused who falsely introduced himself as “Derick” in one of the malls in Cebu City and befriended her. She added she was offered a modeling job by the accused.

She also said in Facebook she met a certain “Hayumi Zayura” who offered her a protein powder that can improve her figure.

Hayumi allegedly requested nude photos of her before and after taking the powder so she can see the difference and she complied.

After sending her nude photos, Hayumi told her that her iPhone was lost and her nude photos were stored in there. The victim then contacted the number of the iPhone but a certain “Jhenrick” answered and asked for P15,000 so he will not upload the photos.

The victim said she later discovered that Derick, Hayumi and Jhenrick was just Antonio posing as different persons. -Mylen P. Manto/BRP (THE FREEMAN)