Cult leader pleads not guilty to detention, firearms possession charges
Cult leader “Dios Amahan” Casiano Apduhan plead not guilty during his arraignment at the sala of Judge Hermes Montero in Toledo City. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
With hands clasped and head slightly bowed down, Balamban faith healer Casiano “Tatay Loloy” Apduhan pleaded “not guilty” on charges of serious illegal detention and illegal possession of firearms.
Apduhan was arraigned before Judge Hermes Montero of the Regional Trial Court Branch 59 in Toledo City yesterday morning. He was assisted by his new lawyer Nikki Alcordo who took over the case from lawyer Danilo Yap.
Also present during the proceedings were alleged victim Emma Nepomuceno, her mother, Apduhan’s wife and daughter, Heddah Largo of the Cebu Provincial Women’s Commission, and supervising agent Reynaldo Villordon of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Apduhan was silent throughout the proceedings. The only words he spoke were “wala koy sala. (I’m innocent)”—the answer he gave to the court when the accusations leveled against him were read to him by the court interpreter.
Alcordo, who for the first time represented Apduhan in court, declined to answer queries from the media. The court set the pre-trial conference of the case on Sept. 10.
In an interview, Largo said the provincial government entrusted the case to the court.
“Apduhan has every right to make that (not guilty) plea. Maybe that’s what he thinks. But we believe otherwise. It’s up to the court to decide on this case,” she told reporters.
Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Apduhan last March 26 for allegedly detaining 33-year-old Emma Nepomuceno inside his villa in Balamban town for over five years.
The NBI also found the bones and decomposing remains of a 14-year-old boy in a deep pit excavated inside the two-story house.
Separate charges of murder, child abuse, and human trafficking were filed against Apduhan who remains at the Toledo City Jail.
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