AN Army general yesterday denied abusing his estranged wife and their daughter, a day after the Commission on Appointment (CA) bypassed his promotion.
Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla shed tears and urged his wife, Tessa Luz Reyes-Sevilla, to cease discussing the matter in public because it has affected their child.
Sevilla told reporters in an interview in Camp Aguinaldo that the violence against women and children (VAWC) case lodged by his wife against him in 2014 had been dismissed by a court.
“The case was dismissed long ago, yet she’s using it to deceive (the public). There is no truth… (that) I abused my wife and my daughter,” said Sevilla.
“I faced it (case) squarely,” he said, adding the court allowed his wife to present evidence and listened to the witnesses “but the court dismissed it (case) for lack of merit.”
Sevilla, the current deputy commander of the AFP Special Operations Command, said he was promoted to colonel, from lieutenant colonel, in 2018 and was subsequently confirmed by the CA.
“What VAWC is she talking about?” Sevilla said of his wife who left him in 2017.
Sevilla alleged his wife convinced their daughter to say that he abused them.
Sevilla said his daughter approached him after the hearing and hugged him. “Will an abused child go near her abuser? You be the judge,” he said.
He also denied allegations by his wife that the military did not take action against her complaint.
“That is misleading, that’s a lie,” said Sevilla, adding the military looked into his wife’s complaint but did not side with her.
Sevilla said their quarrel started in 2013 when his wife sent away from his quarters his 84-year-old mother who had cancer and her daughter from a previous relationship.
“I am sorry that the public is misled by Tessa Reyes. I’m hurt not because of what happened to me but I am hurt because our children are affected,” said Sevilla.
Sevilla also questioned the timing of the demand of his wife to provide her P8.1 million in financial support.
“She timed it on my confirmation (hearing) for general…Where will I get this? Is this fair?” he asked.
Sevilla said if his wife thinks the monthly support he is giving is not enough, they should settle this in court.
