Man still looking for son 'kidnapped' by ex-wife

MANILA, Philippines - A man who filed charges against his ex-wife’s family for allegedly kidnapping his son said yesterday he hopes the recent arrest of the boy’s paternal grandfather would pave the way for his son to be brought back to the country.

The arrest warrant was served to Jesus Javier, 67, at the school that he owns in Caloocan City by Quezon City policemen after Javier’s former son-in-law, Arnell Cruz, filed charges against him; his daughter and Cruz’s ex-wife, Mary Pauline; and Javier’s wife and son.

The marriage of Cruz and Mary Pauline had been annulled, with Cruz’s camp claiming there was supposed to be a joint custody of their son. He said when it was his turn to take custody of their child, Mary Pauline’s family refused to return the boy.

According to Cruz, the last time he had contact with his son was in June last year. The boy was supposed to appear during a custody hearing in October last year.

“What I just want to happen is for my son to come home and be presented in court and let him decide. Whatever the child decides on, we’ll respect that… Our plan is to exhaust all possible legal means to bring him back home,” Cruz said.

But Javier said he has not been in contact with his daughter, who has left the country with the boy, since late last year. “We didn’t conspire. We didn’t know what she (Mary Pauline) was thinking. What they’re doing, we don’t know,” Javier said.

According to Cruz, this could not have been the case and that it was “impossible for him (Javier) not to have contact with his daughter.” He added that Mary Pauline was even on the board of the school Javier owns.

“They hid my child. They conspired and helped their daughter bring my son abroad,” Cruz said, expressing disbelief at how Mary Pauline managed to bring the child out of the country despite a hold departure order issued on the boy.

Javier’s lawyer, Alejandro Dagupio, said they were shocked that the arrest warrant against his client had no bail recommended, but the warrant out on Mary Pauline – who is the principal accused – recommended bail at P6,000.