After being freed from jail, actor Ricardo Cepeda revealed that fellow actor Coco Martin offered him the opportunity to appear again in the popular primetime series "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" on ABS-CBN.

Ricardo disclosed this during his initial interview with the press following his release from jail on Sept. 19.

"Nag message na si Coco na inaayos nila yung kwento. Yung team niya nag message na confirming na pinaghahandaan na nila yung pagbabalik ng character ko," said Ricardo, who plays a drug lord in the series.

The actor added: "I am allowed to work and even go abroad. My lawyer Jason Calagui has to give them a written motion. Sabi rin ni Coco, they have also been praying (for me). 'Yan ang biggest comfort sa akin noon ... hearing those prayers."

Coco is the star and producer of the popular series "Batang Quiapo" on ABS-CBN.

Inside the jail, Ricardo said he was surprised there were many fans of "Batang Quiapo." Before they went to sleep, the actor said they could watch the series.

"In both jails in Camp Karingal and Tuguegarao, fan na fan sila ng 'Batang Quiapo.' So nakikita ko rin yung nangyayari. Tapos tinatanong nila ako kelan daw ako babalik? Sabi ko hindi ko alam," he added.

Oct. 8, 2023

Ricardo, 58, was arrested with a syndicated estafa case on Oct. 8, 2023. "Nasa ribbon cutting event kami. Akala ko gimik lang ng mga pulis sa 'Batang Quiapo.'

"Confident ako na wala akong kasalanan at makakalabas na ako in two to three months. Then ang tagal ng proseso at I was frustrated.

"First night dinala ako sa Camp Karingal. Wala akong tulog kasi nagigising ako. Akala ko bangungot lang ang lahat. Yung detention center sa Karingal wala silang bed. So yung ibang detainees pinahiram lang ako ng foam. Naka two months ako sa Karingal.

"Hindi ako nakatulog noong first night kasi maingay. Everyday may head count so gigising ka ng 5 a.m. kasi kailangan iligpit mo yung gamit mo.

"Nakapila na kayo. Tapos I just realized totoo na ang lahat. So ang ginawa ko parang pinag-aralan ko na lang yung mga nangyayari. Hindi ko rin inexpect na pupunta na ako ng Tuguegarao. Yung isang town sa Cagayan doon yung court. Doon kasi nagfile ng complaint," Ricardo recalled.

Ricardo spent Christmas in jail in 2023.

"Hindi mo ramdam ang Christmas. May konting program naman at ang daming bawal. So we don't talk about our cases. May karaoke naman. We were just recovering financially so bigla naman na-arrest ako.

"Marina (Benipayo) was also in disbelief. Nagtaka siya bakit raw ako nakasama?" Ricardo said.

On his realization of being 11 months in jail, Ricardo said there were many people inside who were just implicated in cases.

"Marami pala akong kasama na tulad ko rin na naimplicate lang sila. Eventually na dismiss din ang mga kaso nila. It's not enough na wala kang kasalanan. It's very easy to be arrested by mistake.

"And then it's very hard to get out. Hindi ko inexpect na aabot ako ng Christmas. Lahat sila nagsasabi noon na sana makauwi raw ako ng Christmas.

"Sabi nila ang Tuguegarao is a hot place. Meron din pala doong cold season. So noong dumating ako ng Tuguegarao cold season na. Parang Baguio," Ricardo said.

The actor was released after posting bail on Sept. 24. It was reported that the resolution was signed by Executive Judge Gemma Bucayu-Madrid. 

"After almost one year, I can go home. My wifey picked me up. Thank you all my dear family and friends. Maraming salamat sa inyong mga dasal."