CA orders ‘arrest and arraignment’ of Willie Revillame

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) affirms the arrest of TV host Willie Revillame in connection to the case filed against him in 2011.

A child abuse complaint was filed against Revillame by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Quezon City regional Trial Court. This is in relation to the March 12, 2011 episode of the defunct TV5 show “Willing Willie,” where he persuaded a child to do “macho-dancer” like dance moves in one of the show’s segments.

The Quezon City RTC Branch 86 has ordered the arrest of Revillame, penned by Judge Roberto Buenaventura on Oct. 4, 2013. This decision led the camp of the TV host to submit an appeal to the CA.

According to Associate Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla, the CA’s decision penned on September 7 has found a “probable cause for the petitioner's commission of a crime.”

They now order his “arrest and arraignment” so that “that this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties' evidence and allegations may be weighed.”

CA added that “as a final note, we observe that the resolution of this case had long been delayed because of the petitioner's refusal to submit to the trial court's jurisdiction and his erroneous invocation of the Rules in his favor.”

Meanwhile, other reports quoted Revillame’s lawyer Nards De Vera where he clarified that the CA didn’t order the arrest of his client.

“What the CA said that it is okay for the RTC to issue a warrant of arrest so that Willie could be arraigned,” 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,” he added.