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Maricel Soriano

The Diamond Star Maricel Soriano failed to attend the clarificatory hearing regarding on the physical abuse case filed by her previous house helpers namely, Mae Cachuela and Camille Acojedo. The said hearing was scheduled last Wednesday, October 5, at the Makati Prosecutor’s Office (particularly at the office of Fiscal Paulo Talban).

According to the report of Jen Cruz-Pastrana of from Radyo Inquirer 990 AM, Mae and Camille were present at the said hearing together with their legal counsel, Atty. Tolie Estrella.

Everyone waited almost 3 hours for the presence of the diamond star yet she did not appear.

In an interview with Mon Tulfo’s radio segment, Atty. Estrella stated the importance of a clarificatory hearing into the case filed against Maricel. “Bale last week po, e, nagpasya po ang investigating prosecutor na si Paulo Talban na i-schedule po ang dalawang kampo para sa clarificatory hearing. Ang ibig pong sabihin nito is bibigyan ng pagkakataon ang bawat partido na linawin ang mga issues na malabo sa prosecutor bago niya ito pagdesisyunan kung anong kaso ang dapat isamapa laban sa respondent,” she said.

Atty. Estrella was shocked unto excuse sent by Maricel’s camp saying they were not notified. According to her, she had seen the actress’ legal counsel, Atty. Raquel Taguien, at the lobby of the Prosecuter’s office.

“E, gaya po ng nasabi ko, nabigyan kami ng notice. Actually, nakita ko pa nga ang legal counsel ng respondents sa lobby kaninang umaga. Laking gulat ko na lang nang nag-text na ‘we’re not notified’ daw, wala daw silang notice,” she added.

Furthermore, Atty. Estrella revealed that additional cases might be filed against the actress. In her statement she said: “Originally po kasi is, dahil nga sa panahon na ‘yon, e, wala pang legal counsel sina Mae. Ang isa pang kaso ay grave threat, oral defamation, tsaka physical injuries. Siguro blessing in disguise na lang dahil ‘yong complaint affidavit nila kapag binasa mo, kumpleto po ang elemento ng kidnapping and serious illegal detention, which is a graver crime. So, ayun nga, kung susuwertihin tayo, I hope papanigan tayo ng batas, is masasampahan ng serious illegal detention si Maricel Soriano.”

She later said that once Maricel is proven guilty of the said crime, she will imprisoned under “Reclusion temporal.”

“Reclusion Temporal is an Afflictive Penalty based on Revised Penal Code of the Philippines Book I Art. 25. This penalty is given to grave felonies, and the duration of which differs if its Reclusion Temporal in its Maximum, Medium or Minimum application,” based from the Philippine Laws.

This is the second time Maricel failed to attend any hearing regarding the physical abuse case filed against her. She had a no-show at her first meeting with her former house helpers last June 6, 2011.

SOURCE: PEP.ph