Bypassed AFP official denies wife’s allegations

Military spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla | PHOTO: Screengrab from Philippine Army’s official facebook page

The Army official accused of extramarital relations and domestic abuse denied on Wednesday the child abuse allegations made by his estranged wife.

But he admitted he had an affair, but only after he filed for annulment of their marriage.

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The military official, who lost his star rank after the Commission on Appointments bypassed his confirmation on Tuesday, faced the media at a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

He said he remained silent “so as not to violate any of the rules of the court,” referring to a gag order. He insisted, however, that the charges of violence against women and children (VAWC) filed against him had long been dismissed by the court.

2014 case junked

According to him, his wife filed the case against him in 2014. “She filed a case against me, VAWC, in court, and I faced it squarely,” he said, adding that the case was later dismissed.

The Army official said he was promoted to colonel in 2018.

“In 2018, there was no complaint against, there was no case filed against me about VAWC. I was promoted and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. What VAWC is she talking about?” he said. “Therefore, I would like to categorically deny the accusation of child abuse,” he added.

The wife of the Army official earlier said that her husband was providing her and their children with only P2,000 in monthly support since he left them for another woman.

She also recalled that in 2014, her husband repeatedly slapped her and even hit her with a suitcase when she tried to stop him from leaving their family.

The Inquirer is not identifying the personalities in this story in accordance with the principles set by the United Nations Children’s Fund regarding the protection of children’s identities in media reports. The estranged couple has two children, both minors.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, the military spokesperson, said the AFP “takes very seriously all allegations and complaints of misconduct, moreso complaints involving violence against women and children.”

“We stress that the AFP will neither condone nor countenance any personnel—both officers and enlisted personnel—who are found to be in violation of our Code of Conduct, moreso pertinent laws on violence against women and children,” Padilla said.