Ely Soriano, 2 others charged

Eliseo “Ely” Soriano, leader of the religious group Ang Dating Daan, and two other persons were charged before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly falsifiying a certificate of detention and for posting bail even though the religious leader was never arrested.

Aside from Soriano, also charged with falsification of public documents were Manila Police District (MPD) Station 10 policeman PO3 June Gumaru nd Belen Talento, a bondswoman from Parañaque.

The complaint was filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Manila based at the MPD headquarters after the CIDG found evidence of alleged falsification of the detention certificate of Soriano.

The CIDG in its report recommending the charges of falsification said “an accused cannot post bail without surrendering or being arrested by law enforcers.”

Gumaru admitted in his affidavit that he never saw Soriano, nor did the latter surrender to him.

Soriano was not present when someone in his behalf applied for bail.

Superintendent Abad Osit, station commander of the MPD Station 10 in Pandacan, Manila, questioned the process that allowed Soriano to gain provisional liberty, or bail, when the religious group leader was never even arrested.

Soriano, who is facing rape charges filed by a male follower in Pampanga, had earlier allegedly posted P240,000 bail at the Manila Regional Trial Court after he apparently surrendered to a police officer in Pandacan.

Reports said the P240,000 recommended bail for two counts of rape was paid by Soriano’s representative at the sala of Judge Silvino Pampilo Jr. The Manila RTC judge issued an order of release afterward.

The case related the sexual acts were done “against the will and consent, and to the damage and prejudice” of the complainant, who was also a religious person.