In a significant legal development, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 112 has dismissed the syndicated estafa complaint against actress and businesswoman Nerizza “Neri” Naig-Miranda. The court’s decision also led to the quashing of the arrest warrant previously issued against her.
The ruling came after the court found a procedural defect in the service of process during the preliminary investigation. It was revealed that the subpoena intended to notify Naig-Miranda of the charges was mistakenly sent to an address in Batangas City instead of her correct residence in Cavite. Due to this error, she was not properly informed of the proceedings, violating her constitutional right to due process. As a result, the court invalidated the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the City Prosecutor (OCP) Pasay City, along with all subsequent actions taken with the case.
The court has now ordered the Pasay City Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a fresh preliminary investigation to ensure that Naig-Miranda is given the proper opportunity to respond to the allegations against her.
Attorney Aureli Sinsuat, co-counsel for Naig-Miranda, welcomed the court’s decision. “We thank the courts for clearing the name of Neri Miranda, who has unmistakably been falsely accused of wrongdoing in the Dermacare case,” Sinsuat stated. He stressed the importance of upholding due process and expressed optimism that the reinvestigation would prove Naig-Miranda’s innocence.
Naig-Miranda was arrested on November 23, 2024, inside a Pasay City mall, on charges of syndicated estafa and violations of the Securities Regulation Code. She was detained at the Pasay City Jail Female Dormitory before being transferred to a hospital for medical evaluation.
Her husband, Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda, has been vocal in defending his wife, insisting that she was merely an endorser for Dermacare and had no direct involvement in its business operations. He emphasized that her name and image were used without her active participation in the company’s dealings.
The court’s decision highlights the importance of ensuring proper legal procedures are followed in criminal cases. As the reinvestigation proceeds, Naig-Miranda and her legal team remain hopeful that the proceedings will ultimately confirm her innocence and clear her name.