Ronnie Ricketts emotional after acquittal of graft case
As one of the most enduring celebrity couples in the industry, actors Ronnie Ricketts and his wife Mariz recalled the ups and downs they went through in life.
Making their first appearance together on Aster Amoyo's YouTube show "TicTalk", the couple shared some of their unforgettable moments and how they managed to get through one of the biggest challenges.
Ronnie, along with OMB computer operator Glenn Perez, and OMB directors Cyrus Paul S. Valenzuela, Manuel J. Mangubat, and Joseph D. Arnaldo, were charged by the Ombudsman with graft for allegedly allowing the return of over 120 boxes of confiscated pirated DVDs and VCDs to their manufacturer, Sky High Marketing, and for not filing any complaints against the persons arrested in the Quiapo raid in May 2010.
In 2019, the Sandiganbayan acquitted the three OMB directors but convicted Ronnie and Perez, who appealed before the Supreme Court. While the SC reversed the verdict on the actor, it affirmed Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict on Perez.
Mariz shared how difficult it was for Ronnie to face the problem.
"For me, si Ronnie ang pinakamahirap na naramdaman niya ay yung sinira ang iningatan niyang pangalan all these years lalo na sa harap ng family niya," she said.
Despite being on the verge of imprisonment, Mariz and her kids assured Ronnie of supporting him along the way.
"Baligtad eh. Siya yung matapang ako yung duwag, meaning duwag for my family, yung security nila. Swerte pa ako, yung asawa ko at pamilya ko, they're behind my back," Ronnie shared.
In July, the High Court reversed Sandiganbayan’s guilty verdict as it acquitted Ronnie of graft charges.
According to the statement released by the Supreme Court, “The appeal of (Ronnie) Ricketts is meritorious. We find that the evidence against him is mere hearsay. The prosecution failed to prove his participation in the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Ronnie finally won the case and cleared his name. At the end of the interview, Mariz said the challenge made their relationship stronger.
"Yung eight years na yun, ayan yung naging trial namin. Parang outcome, nun we're stronger now," Mariz said.
On a lighter note, Ronnie recalled he and Mariz became friends when they were introduced to each other by former Governor E.R Ejercito of Laguna. Following courtship, they became an official couple on Dec. 17, 1989. They finally got married on Dec. 18, 1993.
"Napakita ni Ronnie na malinis yung intentions niya, and for me kasi kapag magbubuild ka ng relationship hindi lang yung taong yan, ako kasi mas kinikilala ko yung family and yun yung pinakita ni Ronnie," Mariz added. (Carissa Alcantara)
Watch the full interview below: