Hold order sought vs singing champ

CEBU, Philippines - The local performer who claimed to have been raped by Tawag ng Tanghalan grand winner Noven Belleza is asking the court to prevent the singing champ from leaving the country.

The 19-year-old complainant asked the court to issue a hold departure order against Belleza, who is currently out on bail.

“In view of the severity of the charge against the accused and the foregoing reason, private prosecutor moves for the issuance of a hold departure order against the accused Noven Belleza,” read the motion filed by Lawyer Janice Lape.

Belleza , 21, a native of Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, was charged with rape under Article 266-A, par.2 of the Revised Penal Code as amended by Republic Act 8353 (sexual assault) before the court.

 The complainant alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the accused on July 15 at 2 a.m. inside the latter’s condominium in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, where he was temporarily staying for a concert.

 The complainant and the accused were friends because they were both contestants of Tawag ng Tanghalan last year.

The complainant seeks for the issuance of the hold departure order after Belleza filed a motion to allow him to travel abroad from August 10 to 14 because of his singing engagement in New Jersey, USA.

Lape said Belleza’s motion contained unauthenticated contract between unknown individuals which he made as basis to seek for court permission to travel abroad.

“On the basis of such circumstance, possibility exists for accused to utilize unverified and/or unauthenticated contractual obligations as a means to travel abroad, rendering accused beyond the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court and in effect frustrate the ends of justice,” the motion reads further. (FREEMAN)