The arraignment of actress and businesswoman Neri Naig-Miranda for alleged violations of the Securities Regulation Code (RA 8799) has been rescheduled to January 9, 2024, after her legal team filed a motion to quash the charges against her.
On November 28, Naig’s lawyers appeared before the Regional Trial Court in Pasay City, where they sought to nullify the charges filed by the prosecution and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The court postponed the proceedings to allow both parties to submit their comments on the motion.
Naig was arrested on November 23 during a convention in Pasay City by Southern Police District (SPD) operatives. She faces 14 counts of violating the Securities Regulation Code, along with charges of estafa and syndicated estafa.
The allegations claim that Naig, as an endorser of Dermacare, a business under Beyond Skin Care Solutions, encouraged investments in the company despite not holding a license to sell securities.
The SEC clarified that violations under the Securities Regulation Code carry a recommended bail of ₱1.7 million. However, the syndicated estafa charges filed against her are non-bailable.
Neri’s husband, Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda, took to social media on November 27 to defend his wife, insisting on her integrity.
“Never nanloko si Neri, at never siya nanlamang sa kapwa. Never siyang kumuha or nanghingi ng pera kahit kanino man,” Miranda stated, adding that they had not received any prior documentation related to the criminal complaints.
Miranda also noted that Neri had faced similar cases in the past due to her endorsements but pointed out that those were dismissed.
The court has directed both the prosecution and the SEC to submit their responses to the motion to quash. The case will resume in January, with public interest growing as more details unfold.
