Joshua de Seguera, son of beauty-queen-model-actress Marina Benipayo, partner of beleaguered actor Ricardo Cepeda, has come out to belie accusations leveled against his stepdad.
Taking to Facebook, he wrote, "My Father Richard Cepeda Go was wrongfully accused."
Ricardo, real name Richard Cepeda Go, was arrested by authorities on Saturday for supposed syndicated estafa.
But Joshua maintained, "He was simply the product endorser of a sales company."
His post in full (published as is):
"Please spread the word. My Father Richard Cepeda Go was wrongfully accused. He was simply the product endorser of a sales company. They used the title BRAND AMBASSADOR (which many companies also use).
"The company offered an investment scheme (which he had no knowledge nor participation of) which paid people a big % profit monthly. Guaranteed with advanced payouts in monthly postdated checks. Eventually the checks started bouncing so the investors filed estafa cases against everyone who they thought was part of the company. Including Ricardo -who was just the celebrity model.
"His lawyer can easily prove his innocence by presenting a copy of DTI showing the company is a sole proprietorship and his name is not there. Also his name appears nowhere on any of the said investment moas and post dated checks.
"Request for bail and if ever court date is his biggest hassle because it means he's stuck in detainment even though he's innocent.
"I have seen a lot of hateful comments about this. IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT REALLY HAPPENED KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO YOURSELF."
Ricardo was nabbed by operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) in Caloocan City, based on the warrant of arrest issued by Judge Gemma Bucayu-Madrid of Regional Trial Court Branch 12 of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan.
He is currently detained at the Quezon City Police District in Camp Karingal, Quezon City.
Ricardo was last seen in the hit TV series “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo.”