Out of 30 Assistant Prosecutors in the office of Philippine Solicitor General Jose Calida, one appears to have some homosexual tendency and developed a taste for young boy. Fortunately, he was arrested two weeks ago in Washington D.C. where he was attending a seminar on international arbitration, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed last 1 December.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose confirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Washington had been extending legal assistance to Assistant Solicitor General Derek Puertollano after he was charged last November 19 with "misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or minor" for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old boy.
The accused posted a bond to gain temporary freedom, but cannot leave the US as he was ordered to surrender all his passports 48 hours to pretrial services. A stay away order has also been filed against him.
A hearing under Judge William Jackson has been set on 9 December 2016 at 9:30 A.M. Hopefully, the media can provide an update on this and post some more photos on the accused.
During his arraignment on 19 November, Puertollano, represented by his lawyer Charles Murdter, pleaded not guilty.
"The embassy was made aware of this case and has been extending appropriate assistance," said Third Secretary and Vice Consul Darell Ann Artates. "We understand that information from the court proceedings including bail conditions are in the public record."
Higher officials of the DoJ appeared to have been surprised by Puertollano’s arrest with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III saying he did not sign a travel authority for the state lawyer's trip to the US.
But Aguirre clarified that there was nothing irregular about that and directed journalists to Puertollano’s direct supervisor Calida.
"He [Puertollano] got his travel permit from the OSG. That is allowed because they are an independent agency from the DoJ," Aguirre said.
DFA spokesman Charles Jose confirmed that the Philippine Embassy in Washington had been extending legal assistance to Assistant Solicitor General Derek Puertollano after he was charged last November 19 with "misdemeanor sexual abuse of a child or minor" for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old boy.
The accused posted a bond to gain temporary freedom, but cannot leave the US as he was ordered to surrender all his passports 48 hours to pretrial services. A stay away order has also been filed against him.
A hearing under Judge William Jackson has been set on 9 December 2016 at 9:30 A.M. Hopefully, the media can provide an update on this and post some more photos on the accused.
During his arraignment on 19 November, Puertollano, represented by his lawyer Charles Murdter, pleaded not guilty.
"The embassy was made aware of this case and has been extending appropriate assistance," said Third Secretary and Vice Consul Darell Ann Artates. "We understand that information from the court proceedings including bail conditions are in the public record."
Higher officials of the DoJ appeared to have been surprised by Puertollano’s arrest with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre III saying he did not sign a travel authority for the state lawyer's trip to the US.
But Aguirre clarified that there was nothing irregular about that and directed journalists to Puertollano’s direct supervisor Calida.
"He [Puertollano] got his travel permit from the OSG. That is allowed because they are an independent agency from the DoJ," Aguirre said.