Adultery Raps: Salve Me Head, Woman Enter Not Guilty Plea
The
Freeman, February 10, 2005
Cebu, Philippines
By Joeberth M. Ocao
Alfredo Verano, the leader of the controversial Salva Me
Pater Omnis Oculus Meus organization yesterday pleaded not guilty to the
adultery charges filed against him and a woman who is a member of his
religious cult.
Verano and the woman entered their plea before Municipal
Trial Court in Cities Judge Donato Navarro yesterday morning. The pre-trial of
the case against them is slated two months from now.
A few months ago, Verano was arrested but was later freed
after he posted bail of P12,000. Donato issued the warrant against him
following a complaint filed by the woman’s legal husband the other year. The
husband alleged that Verano sired four children with the woman while he was
out of the country for several years.
Verano had earlier denied having any romantic
relationship with the woman. However, they may suffer imprisonment ranging
from two years to four months and one day to eight years should they be found
guilty of the charges.
A member of an organization reportedly has issued an
affidavit in favor of the complainant to the effect that Verano indeed had an
affair with the complainant’s wife and is the father of the four children.
Salva Me Pater Omnis Oculos Meus, which if translated to English, means “
Father Save us from all our offenses” came to prominence January last year
after about 150 residents of barangay Buhisan filed a petition demanding that
the cult be removed from the area as it allegedly engaged into illegal
treasure hunting activities while its leader allegedly treats its female
members as sex slaves.
At the height of the controversy last year, the
Department of Social Welfare and Development took custody of about 20 children
who lived with the Salva Me after it found out that the children lacked
nutrition and proper hygiene.
The religious cult started in Banawa after Daddy Divine
founded it in 1994 and they moved on to sitio Nazareth in barangay Buhisan in
1998.
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