Arrested lawyer’s wife: He’s innocent

CEBU, Philippines — The wife of lawyer-broadcaster Juril Patiño, who was accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl inside his car in 2017, has maintained that her husband is innocent.

Lilibeth Estomo Patiño, in a Facebook post yesterday, said her husband should not be condemned as he was only a victim of trampled and fabricated charges.

“You do not know the story behind this fabricated case against him. I know he is innocent and is only a victim of false charges of crime he did not commit. He is a good person,” read a portion of her post.

Her post garnered 842 reactions, 280 comments and 269 shares as of 6 p.m. yesterday.

Lilibeth added that her husband is just a victim of injustice.

She also asked the public “not to judge and condemn” her husband.

Juril was arrested Monday afternoon along Arellano Boulevard, corner General Maxilom extension in Cebu City. His arrest came after the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas received tip that the lawyer, through his wife, was supposed to submit documents to the Cebu City Hall of Justice.

When the wife disembarked, they discovered that the suspect just stayed inside the vehicle.

NBI-7 agents then served the arrest warrant, which was issued by Judge Marlon Moneva of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) 7 Branch 20, against Juril.

Juril is currently detained at the NBI and is set to be transferred to the Cebu City jail in Barangay Kalunasan, where he will be staying for the duration of his trial.

Juril’s arrest stemmed from the rape charges filed by NBI-7 before the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office on July 26, 2017.

The Prosecutor’s Office found sufficient ground to charge Juril with rape charges in April last year.

Juril earlier denied the allegations hurled against him, saying he would not risk his reputation by doing what is accused of him.

Background

The minor claimed she went to the office of Brigada News at Pier 1 in Cebu City on July 4, 2017 to supposedly ask money from program anchor Carlo Dugaduga for her school project.

The victim, her mother, and older sister used to do laundry for Dugaduga to earn money.

The girl said Dugaduga was not around when she went to the radio station. She said she instead met Juril and asked money from the latter so she could go back home to Barangay Labangon, Cebu City.

At first, Juril allegedly told her that he didn’t have coins. But while she was on her way out of the building, the lawyer-broadcaster allegedly told her to go with him to his car where he left the coins.

The victim said Juril allegedly offered to bring her to the nearest place where she can ride a jeepney going to Labangon.

But when they reached Barangay Parian, Juril purportedly stopped near the building and locked the doors of his vehicle.

Afterwhich, the girl said, she was told by Juril to transfer to the back seat. She obliged out of fear.

The victim said Juril then sexually molested her inside the vehicle whose windows were tinted.

After the alleged rape, the girl said Juril gave her P200.

She subsequently reported the matter to her mother who in turn sought the help of the Parian Police Station.

However, they felt that the authorities were reluctant to file a case against Juril, prompting them to ask assistance from NBI-7 officials, who after conducting an investigation, decided to file a rape complaint against Juril at the prosecutor’s office.

Juril served as anchor of Brigada News FM before he was asked to temporarily stop handling any program pending the resolution of the charges filed against him.

At present, Juril serves as legal adviser and consultant of the radio station. He passed the Bar in 2014. —KBQ (FREEMAN)