THE scheduled online arraignment last Friday of a Spaniard accused of sexual molestation by a 16-year-old girl did not push through due to internet connectivity issues at the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center.

This prompted the Taguig regional trial court to reset the arraignment of Franco Sanchez to October 19 at 8:30 a. m.

Likewise, the court gave the prosecution sufficient time to file a comment/opposition on the motion to dismiss filed by Sanchez.

The respondent’s motion stemmed from the affidavit of desistance filed by the complainant.

Sanchez, 36, was charged by the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office with 10 counts of violation of Republic Act 7610 (Anti-Child Abuse Law) and RA 9775 (Anti-Child Pornography Act).

The victim, a student of an exclusive school in Taguig City, recently made headlines after she filed sexual abuse cases against Dean Edward Cheves, a director at the United States Embassy in Manila.

According to the victim, she first met Sanchez on December 14, 2020 in Pasay City. Suspect brought her at his place in Taguig City where they allegedly took illegal drugs and immediately had sex, which was put on record as the first sexual abuse.

This incident was allegedly followed by several more sexual abuses.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Hector Lawas