MANILA, Philippines – Actor Ricardo Cepeda has been released after posting bail, his partner Marina Benipayo shared on her Instagram account on Thursday, September 19.
Benipayo posted a video of herself dancing with Cepeda.
“11 months and finally, he’s going home! God is good! Thank you, everyone for your prayers,” Benipayo captioned her post.
Meanwhile, actress Nadia Montenegro shared a series of photos and video clips documenting the actor’s release. She also shared a photo of Cepeda’s signed release form, where an executive judge ordered his release from the Cagayan Provincial Jail in Tuguegarao City after posting bail. It was signed on September 18.
“For almost one year you [patiently] fought your battles in court and endured jail time hundreds of miles away from home. One by one you faced them knowing you did nothing wrong,” Montenegro wrote.
“Ric you have always been a kind, decent, respectful and [respected] human being. This was just a phase you had to go through that only your faith will allow us to understand,” she added.
Cepeda was taken into police custody in October 2023 after being charged with syndicated estafa. A day after his arrest, his son, Mark de Sequera, took to social media to attest to his father’s innocence, claiming that Cepeda was “wrongfully accused.”
Cepeda is a veteran actor who has acting credits in the films Doll House, Secrets of Pura, and Honor: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos, among others. He also appeared in the shows Return to Paradise, Marimar, and Mano Po Legacy: Her Big Boss, to name a few. – Rappler.com