Freddie Aguilar accused of child abuse
Victim’s parents charged with corruption of a minor for allowing her to be exploited by a ‘predator’
Manila: Lawyers accused music icon Freddie Aguilar of child abuse, after the latter converted to Islam to marry his 16-year-old girlfriend in the southern Philippines.
Lawyer Fernando Perito and two other complainants, Peter Sesbreño and Christine Joy Bangalisan filed the case against Freddie Aguilar, who should be educated on the laws against child abuse and corruption of minors.
He should “behave responsibly in society and obey our laws on children and women,” the lawyers said, adding they also charged the girl’s parents with corruption of a minor because they allowed her to be exploited by a “predator”.
The couple’s admission that they were living in, a sign that she was exposed to sexual abuse, the lawyers said.
A preliminary investigation of the case was reset to December 9.
Earlier, Aguilar married his teen-aged girl friend with the help of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Esmail Mangudadatu in Buluan, Maguindanao.
When he converted Aguilar was known as Abdul Fared, and his bride, Sittie Mariam.
Philippine law requires a woman to reach 18 to get married while Sharia allows a girl to be married after puberty.
