MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) has stated that Francisco Manuel Sanchez de Oria, the Spanish national accused of sexually abusing a minor, is still being held in custody and has not posted bail for his temporary release.
“Initially it was relayed to me that Franco Sanchez posted bail. However, it was confirmed tonight by the City Prosecutor of Taguig that Franco Sanchez is being detained at the Bureau of Immigration Detention Center for two reasons: 1) he did not post bail in the violation of RA 7610 and RA 9775 case, and 2) the pendency of deportation proceedings,” Justice Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar said in a message to reporters Wednesday night.
After a commitment order was filed against him last October, the 36-year-old suspect, also known as Franco Sanchez, is set to be arraigned on Friday.
He is charged for violating Republic Act (RA) 7160, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, and RA 9775, also known as the Anti-Child Pornography Act, before the Taguig Regional Trial Court Branch 15.
Last year, Sanchez allegedly met the 16-year-old female victim online and invited her to his Taguig residence, where he reportedly provided her with narcotics and had sex with her.
According to the minor, Sanchez recorded her and a certain “Gil” while having sex.
Sanchez’s case is tied to a similar case in which a Pasay court issued an arrest warrant for Dean Edward Cheves, a 61-year-old former United States Embassy officer, for allegedly having sex with a juvenile while stationed in the Philippines.
Cheves, who was stationed in Manila from September 2020 to February this year, was charged in the United States by a federal grand jury in Virginia.
