Video: Preliminary hearing of child abuse case against Willie Revillame

There are three complaints filed at the QC Prosecutor, Atty. Benjamin Samson.

A consolidated hearing was held for these three separate complaints but it does not mean the complaints were consolidated. All three complaints have the same respondent , Willie Revillame, who is charged for allegedly violating Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Expoitation, and Discrimination Act) after the six year old dancing boy cried on “Willing Willie” last March 12.

The first complainants are the Stop Child Rights Exploitation in Media (SCREAM) who charged TV 5 Manila executives along with Willie Revillame. The executives cited as respodents are Associated Broadcasting Company chairman Manuel Pangilinan, president and CEO Rey Espinosa, and executive vice president and CEO Roberto Barreiro; as well as Willing Willie director Jojo Jardeleza, executive producer Rackie Sevilla, and segment producer Adrian Gret. SCREAM also charged that they also violated RA 9775 (An Act Defining the Crime of Child Pornography) and RA 9231 (An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor).

The second complaint filed by Secretary Corazon Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) charged Willie Revillame for allegedly violating Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Expoitation, and Discrimination Act)

The same charges were filed by the third complainants, private citizens Froilan Grate, Peachy Bretana, Father Robert Reyes and myself.

Four lawyer groups present for the respondents were ACCRA, Marcos Ochoa, Reyno and Atty Leonardo De Vera. Atty. Sevilla represented SCREAM while Atty. Castro for DSWD. Atty Luis H. Dado represented the private citizens.

Atty Leonardo De Vera arrived late, with the TV5 crew. ABS CBN & GMA followed. The fiscal vowed to come out with a decision in 60 days to merit or dismiss the 3 cases filled against WR.

Here is what Atty de Vera said. He questioned rules of procedures asking how the case was raffled.

Respondents didn’t issue counter-affidavits to our complaints. These will have to be submitted on May 23 and clarificatory hearing is set on May 30. The prosecutor decides within 60 days if the case will proceed to trial.

It looks like Willie Revillame will return on television on Saturday, May 14, with a new, refurbished primetime offering. TV5 announced that the show will be titled “Wil Time Bigtime,” which will occupy the timeslot of its predecessor, “Willing Willie.”