Guard bares frame-up try on film director

A security guard bared yesterday an alleged attempt to use him as a witness in a rape complaint filed against a popular film director by a houseboy in exchange for P50,000.

Ludovico Corpuz Jr., in a complaint he filed against lawyer Leo Romero and his brothers, alleged that he was forcibly abducted by two armed men last Nov. 14 and brought to the Quezon City hall of justice to swear before a prosecutor that he witnessed the sexual abuse allegedly committed by Leo’s brother Vittorio, a film director, on his houseboy in his residence at Acropolis subdivision in Quezon City from 1992 to 1996.

Corpuz, who was Vittorio’s close-in security guard from 1995 up to last year, said this is the second time Leo wanted him to sign an affidavit implicating the film director. The first incident took place last August when Leo and his brother showed up at Corpuz’s house in Barangay Bueno, Mangatarem in Pangasinan province and offered him money in exchange for his testimony.

“I never set foot in Acropolis during 1992 to 1996 because as per our records Sir Vit vacated his house in Acropolis in mid-1995,” he said.

Corpuz alleged that during the Nov. 14 abduction, he was blindfolded and pushed into a waiting van. After a long trip, he found out that he was already in the parking lot of the Quezon City hall of justice where Leo met him and told him that he will swear before a prosecutor to implicate Vittorio in a rape case.            

Corpuz, who was wearing house clothes when he was abducted, said he was given clothing and allowed to go the comfort room to change clothes. However, he said he slipped out of the justice hall building and ran to the parking lot “to free myself from harm.”

Corpuz accused Leo and his brother of grave coercion, grave threats and attempted bribery.  – Perseus Echeminada