The Court of Appeals has paved the way for the prosecution of television host and actor Willie Revillame for child exploitation.
In a resolution dated April 11, 2016, the CA’s Thirteenth Division through Associate Justice Maria Luisa Quijano-Padilla denied for lack of merit the motion for reconsideration filed Revillame in connection with the child abuse case filed against him for allegedly exploiting a kid by asking him to do a lewd dance during his TV show on prime time.
The appellate court sustained its Sept. 7, 2015 decision finding that probable cause exist for the filing of criminal charges against Revillame.
The CA stressed that it found no new arguments to warrant the reversal of its earlier findings.
“We have carefully reviewed our decision vis-a-vis the Motion for Reconsideration and we have found that the issues raised in the present motion and the arguments advanced in support thereof are mere rehash of those already considered and passed upon, and no new issue or substantial argument has been presented to justify the reversal or modification of the assailed decision,” the resolution stated.
“As there is probable cause for the petitioner’s commission of a crime, his arrest and arraignment should now ensue so that this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties’ evidence and allegations may be weighed,” the appellate court ruled.
It pointed out that the regional trial court “committed no grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause inducting petitioner of Violation of RA No. 7610, there being a showing that respondent judge personally evaluated the factual circumstances that led him to believe that there was probable cause to apprehend petitioner for its commission of the offense charged.”
Quezon City RTC Judge Roberto Buenaventura found prima facie evidence and eventually issued a warrant of arrest against Revillame on Oct. 4, 2013.
The CA said the lower court did not arbitrarily issue the warrant of arrest against Revillame as it was issued after evaluation of the factual circumstances that led the judge to believe that there was probable cause to apprehend petitioner for his commission of a crime.
Revillame was charged with child abuse for allegedly exploiting a kid after the latter made a lewd dance while crying on national television.
The crowd—including Jan-Jan’s aunt—were seen laughing and clapping, while the boy repeatedly danced to the tune of Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” on the video that went viral with millions of hits on Youtube.
The MTRCB, then chaired by Senator Grace Poe, held that the episode showed immoral and indecent broadcast that ran against Filipino values.