Freddie Aguilar skips qualified seduction hearing

MANILA, Philippines - Folk singer Freddie Aguilar failed to appear before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office during the scheduled hearing on the qualified seduction case filed against him for having a relationship with a 16-year-old girl.

Assistant City Prosecutor Edgardo Saplala rescheduled the hearing for the preliminary investigation on Nov. 25. He said the 60-year-old folk singer failed to appear despite due notice.

The prosecutor said another hearing will be scheduled if Aguilar fails to appear again on Nov. 25. He added that the complaint will be deemed submitted for resolution if the singer fails to attend for the third time.

However, Aguilar said in a phone interview that he has not received any subpoena informing him of the scheduled hearing. He said he would inform his lawyer about the case.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by lawyer Fernando Perito on Oct. 22. He charged Aguilar with qualified seduction under Article 337 of the Revised Penal Code.

Perito, who appeared before the investigating prosecutor yesterday, said he decided to file the case against his “idol” because he does not want to lose his respect for him.

“I don’t want to destroy his name, but he has to follow the law,” he said following the deferment of the hearing.

“It would be better if he was around so I can hear his side,” he said, adding that he is also planning to file a child abuse charge against the singer.

He said he may also ask for a temporary restraining order barring Aguilar from seeing the minor until she is of legal age.

In his complaint, Perito said that he was outraged, offended, and scandalized by the acts of Aguilar for publicly bragging that he is in love with a 16-year-old girl. “This cradle snatcher wants to take advantage of the adulation of the child by pretending to be loving her and allegedly marrying her later. This old man deserves to be castrated to spare the children,” he said.

Perito said he filed the complaint because as a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, he has the obligation to ensure that everyone follows the law.

Perito said Aguilar’s admission and his public display of love and affection violated morals and ethics on separating the adult from a child and the prey from the predator.

Aguilar earlier told The STAR that there was no qualified seduction in their relationship, unlike in the case of Hollywood personality Woody Allen, who married the adopted daughter of his then partner.

Allen was 56 when he admitted to having a relationship with Soon-Yi Previn, then 21, in 1992.

 â€œHe was the guardian of the girl... that’s qualified seduction,” he said.