Actor denies syndicated estafa charge

MANILA, Philippines — Actor Ricardo Cepeda maintained his innocence on the charge of syndicated estafa that landed him in jail.

Cepeda, Richard Cesar Go in real life, said he is not connected with the illegal activities of the officials of a company who sought his services as a model for their products such as energy-saving gadgets.

“I am not connected at all sa company. Even sa business registration, my names are not there,” he said in an interview aired over GMA News on Tuesday night.

The 57-year-old Cepeda was gracing a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a restobar in Maypajo, Caloocan City on Saturday when he was apprehended by operatives of the Quezon City Police District who served him a warrant of arrest for a charge of syndicated estafa under Article 314 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to Presidential Decree 1689.

The warrant was issued by a court in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.

Cepeda was shocked when police told him he was being arrested for a case in which he was not aware he was among the respondents.

“I had heard there was a scandal but I did not know I was included,” he said.

What is frustrating for Cepeda is that the charge against him is non-bailable.

“I cannot work because I am here trying to prove my innocence,” Cepeda said.