Rufa Mae Quinto released after posting bail; pleads not guilty to SEC violations

Pasay RTC Branch 111 has ordered the release of actress Rufa Mae Quinto after posting bail on Thursday.

“Go, go, go home na ako,” comedianne Quinto even joked while speaking to reporters.

Quinto, accompanied by operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation International Airport Division, posted a total of P1.7 Million in bail for 14 counts of violation of the Section 8 of the Securities Regulation Code, each count for P126,000.

Appearing before the court, Quinto pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Pasay RTC issued an arrest warrant against Quinto last year for cases filed by investors of the skincare company Dermacare.

Quinto was escorted by operatives of the NBI at NAIA after surrendering to authorities upon her return from the US on Wednesday.

Quinto in an earlier interview said that she was only tapped as an endorser for the said clinic and did not seek investments for the company.

She also urged the complainants to go after the owners of Dermacare.

"Wala naman akong kinalaman sa kanila. Hindi ko naman sila na-meet, or nakilala. In fact, ako din, hindi rin nabayaran. Nag-bounce lahat ng cheke. At three months lang po ako na parang 'yung pumirma ako, tapos first down talbog, second down talbog. So puro bouncing, tapos sabi 'sorry.' Kinancel din nila ako as endorser," Rufa said.

"So sana 'yung mga biktima, 'yuna ang hanapin n'yo 'yung may-ari, kung sino 'yung kausap nila. Pangalawa, sana i-highlight n'yo kung sino ang kawatan dito, hindi 'yong porket artista, ikaw na agad 'yong laging nasa news. Ibig sabihin kailangang malinaw na hindi lang ako, kundi dapat pati mismo ang may-ari ang dapat habulin," she added.

GMA Integrated News has been trying to reach Dermacare for their statement. We will update the story once we've heard from Dermacare.

Actress Neri Naig-Miranda also appeared before the court as Quinto’s co-accused. She was accompanied by husband Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda.

Naig-Miranda’s arraignment was deferred as there are unresolved motions pending before the court.

The actress and social media personality did not respond to questions when asked by reporters.

According to Saleema Refran's report that aired on "24 Oras" Thursday evening, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said that the hearing on the syndicated estafa case against Naig-Miranda will be brought before the Department of Justice.

—LA/MGP, GMA Integrated News