The couple who allegedly exposed their five children and a niece to cyber pornography in barangay Ibabao, Cordova town, north Cebu, yesterday made a turnaround and pleaded “not guilty” to charges of qualified trafficking, child abuse and child pornography filed against them.
The woman burst into tears as the court interpreter read the charges against her in the sala of Judge Toribio Quiwag of the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City.
Her husband stood beside her and simply bowed his head.
In an interview, the woman told Cebu Daily News that they earlier admitted to the crime because they couldn’t understand what went on in their minds after they were arrested by the agents of the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas last June 1.
Their arraignment was delayed after the couple wasn’t found in the courtroom when the case was first called at around 9:30 a.m.
Lapu-Lapu City Jail guards told the court they thought the couple will be arraigned today.
Judge Quiwag ordered the guards to bring in the accused.
The couple arrived at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall of Justice at around 10 a.m., assisted by lawyer Paulito Cabrera of the Public Attorney’s Office.
The woman, who is pregnant, said she missed her children who are under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Lolita Lomanta said they are ready to prosecute the couple.
“It’s up to the court to evaluate our evidence,” Lomata told reporters.
The court scheduled the preliminary conference on June 27.
Despite the couple’s plea, Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale who attended their arraignment said they are confident in the case because they have strong evidence.
“I was hoping they would enter a guilty plea because they already said a lot,” she said.
Magpale, who co-chairs the Provincial Women’s Commission, met yesterday behind closed doors with the technical working group that handles the case to discuss the status of their interventions.
She said they have not yet found a suitable place where the six children would be housed.
The mother of the sixth child wanted to claim her daughter, Magpale said.
The child care specialist looking after the children has yet to evaluate if they will give the girl to her mother.
Magpale also said they will be cautious in divulging information about the case that is now in court especially to members of the media.
“This time we would be secretive about things,” she said.
Video of the cyber pornography raid was broadcast on national television last week.