Neri Miranda released from jail; complainants' lawyer says more victims overseas reaching out to him
Neri Miranda has been released from jail after spending over a week behind bars for alleged estafa and 14 counts of securities regulation code violation. The complainants' lawyer, meanwhile, said more victims abroad are approaching him.
Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said Miranda, an actress and a businessman, was freed on Dec. 4 following Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 112's order after her camp filed a motion to quash her arrest warrant.
“Yes, we confirm her release from the Pasay City Jail’s female dormitory," Bustinera said, according to a report by The Philippine STAR. "The release papers were served at the hospital."
Miranda was granted a five-day medical furlough on Nov. 29 and was supposed to return to jail on Dec 4.
Bustinera said they verified Miranda's pending cases and warrant following protocol before her release.
Miranda's alleged estafa and violation of the securities regulation code reportedly stemmed from her endorsement urging dozens of individuals to invest hundreds of thousands of pesos in skincare company Dermacare. Dozens of investors, however, weren't able to get back money. The company also isn't authorized to solicit investments, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Roberto Labe, who represents 39 individuals who filed the cases against Miranda, meanwhile, said they were anticipating Miranda's release.
Labe pointed out that according to court records, the complaints failed to reach Miranda, leading to the arrest warrant getting quashed. He said they didn't have the chance to appeal.
"Dapat po kasi hanggang ngayon pero nakatanggap na po ako ng order kahapon pa," he told ABS-CBN's TV Patrol. "Nagpe-prepare na po ako dapat ng aming kontra o comment for opposition pero nagkaroon na ng decision 'yung judge kahapon."
The court gave 60 days for the complaints to undergo preliminary investigation again, per the lawyer.
Labe said there are overseas Filipinos who have been reaching out to him after watching the news.
"Nakita po nila sa TV... nagkaroon po sila ng lakas ng loob, nabuhayan na habulin dahil sa kanilang palagay, 'di na mahahabol dahil nagtatago po 'yung mga board of directors [ng Dermacare]," he said.
The arraignment is set for Jan. 9, 2025.
Reports about Miranda's arrest began with showbiz insider Ogie Diaz talking about it on the Nov. 24 episode of his YouTube channel.
On the evening of Nov. 26, the Southern Police District wrote a Facebook post announcing that a manhunt operation, led by the Pasay City Police in coordination with the Warrant and Subpoena Section, resulted in the arrest of a 41-year-old actress and businesswoman. They said the woman, who was initially identified as "Neri" at 7:33 p.m. but was changed to "Erin" at 8:06 p.m., was arrested at a basement convention center in Pasay City on Nov. 23 at 2:50 p.m. According to them, she's listed as Rank No. 7, or the seventh most wanted person, for November 2024.
In an ABS-CBN News report, authorities confirmed that a certain "Nerizza Miranda" was transferred to Pasay City Jail's female dormitory at around 12:02 p.m. on the day of her arrest. (Neri was born Nerizza Garcia Naig, and tied the knot with Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda in December 2014.)
On Nov. 27, Chito in an Instagram post asserted that his wife didn't swindle anybody and that she's so helpful to other people, even if it can be harmful to her and her kindness gets abused at times. He explained that she's an endorser whose face was used to attract investors, but victims still sued her.
Police told GMA's 24 Oras that Miranda has posted bail for her securities regulations code violations. With 14 counts set at P126,000 each, her bail amounted to P1.764 million.
GMA News reported on Nov. 28 that her camp filed a motion to quash, which requests the court to invalidate a previous proceeding like a subpoena, arrest warrant, or legal complaint.
