Witness Vice Gov Agnes Magpale (left) explains to the Bocabal family and cult leader Casiano Apduhan’s family after the hearing for bail at the sala of Judge Hermes Montero in Toledo City.Alicia Bocabal (standing center) who earlier sought the assistance of the Provincial Womens Commission headed by the vice governor.(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
“I’m just doing my job.”
This was what Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale told the family of the woman who was rescued by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) inside the villa of alleged cult leader Casiano Apduhan in Balamban town, Cebu.
Magpale, who co-chairs the Provincial Women’s Commission, chose not to withdraw the charges of serious illegal detention against Apduhan despite the claim by alleged victim Emma Nepomuceno that he did not detain her.
The vice governor was presented as the prosecution’s first witness during a hearing before Judge Hermes Montero of the Regional Trial Court branch 59 in Toledo City yesterday.
The hearing was held to determine if Apduhan should be allowed to post bail.
Nepomuceno’s mother Alicia Bocabal, who earlier sought the PWC’s assistance, recently decided to support Apduhan also known as “Tatay Loloy.”
During the hearing, Magpale said the PWC’s Technical Working Group investigated the alle-gations against Apduhan.
Mandate
The prosecution also presented NBI supervising agent Reynaldo Villordon.
After she took the witness stand, Magpale approached Bocabal and Nepomuceno at the court room.
“I have nothing personal against you. I just heeded your request. If I didn’t act on your request, I could have been sued for not doing my mandate,” the vice governor told them.
Bocabal earlier sought Magpale’s help after her daughter Emma went missing for five years.
Close ties
But the mother eventually chose not to go after Apduhan when Emma claimed that she wasn’t detained by the cult leader.
In an interview, Magpale said the PWC is convinced that Apduhan is involved in illegal activities inside his villa.
NBI agents arrested Apduhan last March 26 in his home in Buanoy, Balamban town, which had an underground tunnel.
He was accused of detaining 33-year-old Nepomuceno inside his villa for over five years, a charge that she later denied.
The prosecution earlier presented a psychologist as an expert witness to attest that Nepomuceno may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, a condition where hostage victims develop close ties with their captors.
The bail hearing resumes on Dec. 2.
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