Bangkok Adultery Fugitives To Feature on LOCKED UP ABROAD

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

A couple who fled to safety in Bangkok after being banged up in the Philippines on adultery charges are to feature in ‘Locked Up Abroad’ on National Geographic Television this week.

David Scott, from Swindon, Wilts, and Cynthia Reyes, from Manila, made their break for freedom after colleague Andy Chant and myself took up their case in the media in the UK.

At one time it seemed their backs were completely against the wall. Divorce is of course illegal in the Philippines, but if you have a lot of cash it is possible to get an annulment provided both parties agree and one party admits to be mentally unbalanced.

Scores of Filipinas and foreigners may be committing adultery every day as many women in the sex trade have broken, but still legal, marriages. Cynthia was decidedly not in the sex trade. She was actually head of housekeeping at a hotel in Dubai.

David, Cynthia and baby Janina outside the British Embassy in Bangkok after getting the good news

David and Cynthia had met on the internet and he flew out to meet her in Manila. She got pregnant and when he flew back for the birth both were arrested at gunpoint by police and jailed on the orders of Cynthia’s estranged husband, who had heard about the relationship and apparently saw an opportunity to make some money.

Cynthia and baby Janina on the flight from the Philippines

When their child was born just a few days after getting bail British Embassy officials told the couple that under Philippines law Cynthia’s estranged husband was the father. Everywhere they went the couple was faced with demands for cash. They finally had to buy themselves out of the country through Immigration.

In fact this was a financial merry go round with seemingly almost everyone wanting a piece of the action. Luckily friends back home manage to raise to cash for David and Cynthia and their case was taken up by a sympathetic British M.P.

Having escaped to Bangkok David and Cynthia spent half the time at my home and half the time with my colleague Andy Chant, while DNA paternity tests were done and the Home Office in the UK finally relented and agreed to admit the family into Britain and notified the British Embassy to issue the relevant visas.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/view-story.php?sid=411

[sjr09 155]

Seen the promo should be interesting

[Karee 4,189]

My experience in Manilla:

I used to travel there almost on a weekly basis from Bangkok. My passport got lost/stolen. I went to the embassy on a Thursday afternoon. They informed me me that I had to have a police report. That was a joy getting that. I filed police reports and all that is required by the US embassy. I went to the US embassy over there near the hospital. They said tommorrow Friday is a holiday here. On the following Monday they gave me a new passport. No flights back to Bangkok at that point.

No they say I need an entrance stamp on my new passport, which of course I don't have. I paid 3k pesos to some guys uncle that I knew who was a customs officer.

I checked out of the Shangri-la and checked in to Oakwood, which was very nice. PLDT didn't help me at all. Glorietta was nice.

On Monday I got a new US passport, but too late to fly back to Bangkok. I had to go to the Foreign ministry and pay some guys uncle 5000 pesos to get a stamp. The top two floors had been burned down in the previous days.

Point being, that place is a mess and a nice place at the same time. EDSA sucks. At least in BKK they have highways. Manilla only has 1..

[sjr09 155]

http://channel.natio...Videos/10400_00

http://www.andrew-dr...her.php?sid=284

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Good job finding those links.

[lovelyjoy 13]

No one is above the law, ideally speaking. Sadly, this is not always true esp in our country, the Philippines where people say rules are merely suggestions/optional for those who have the money. My heart goes out to Scott and Cynthia, especially their baby. It's sad that they got "picked out" and was sampled for the implementation of this law. But it's still the LAW.

Personally, I don't think cheap annulment (with the guise of divorce) will solve most marital problems. Better, stricter implementation of the present laws will help protect majority of the citizens including married individuals.

However, I prefer to be pro-active and help educate people to wait for the right person and choose wisely for their future partners or else face the consequences of their decisions including possible imprisonment or complicated paper work for their "second" marriage. This is just my stand.

I do wish them the best in life.

[sjr09 155]

No one is above the law, ideally speaking. Sadly, this is not always true esp in our country, the Philippines where people say rules are merely suggestions/optional for those who have the money. My heart goes out to Scott and Cynthia, especially their baby. It's sad that they got "picked out" and was sampled for the implementation of this law. But it's still the LAW.

Personally, I don't think cheap annulment (with the guise of divorce) will solve most marital problems. Better, stricter implementation of the present laws will help protect majority of the citizens including married individuals.

However, I prefer to be pro-active and help educate people to wait for the right person and choose wisely for their future partners or else face the consequences of their decisions including possible imprisonment or complicated paper work for their "second" marriage. This is just my stand.

I do wish them the best in life.

This is not about the law, or stricter implementation of the present laws but about greed and corruption. You have cockroaches like delfino, local police and more then likely immigration officials who see foreigners as a feed bag!

[lovelyjoy 13]

sjr09-> Greed and corruption will always be present whether Manila or Washington or Moscow. It's human nature. Some countries/gov't are just better at implementing their laws compared to the Phil that's why illegal activities/officials are not as rampant as in Manila. There will always be cockroaches or Delfinos or crooked cops wherever you are.

Not everyone in the Philippines sees or treat foreigners as feed bags. That's a sweeping statement/generalization. Just like NOT all foreigners see Filipinas as mail-order brides or social climbers or other derogatory stereotypes.

[sjr09 155]

sjr09-> Greed and corruption will always be present whether Manila or Washington or Moscow. It's human nature. Some countries/gov't are just better at implementing their laws compared to the Phil that's why illegal activities/officials are not as rampant as in Manila. There will always be cockroaches or Delfinos or crooked cops wherever you are.

Not everyone in the Philippines sees or treat foreigners as feed bags. That's a sweeping statement/generalization. Just like NOT all foreigners see Filipinas as mail-order brides or social climbers or other derogatory stereotypes.

My comment was not about, 'not everyone sees or treats foreigners as feed bags', mail-order brides, social climbers or other derogatory stereotypes. You made the sweeping statement and generalization of the Philippines.

[Darnell 8,478]

Welcome to the UK !

[lovelyjoy 13]

My comment was not about, 'not everyone sees or treats foreigners as feed bags', mail-order brides, social climbers or other derogatory stereotypes. You made the sweeping statement and generalization of the Philippines.

You have cockroaches like delfino, local police and more then likely immigration officials who see foreigners as a feed bag!

I apologize if I misunderstood your comment. We do pray and hope there will be less "cockroaches" in the police force and immigration and the rest of the gov't offices so cases like these will be minimized if not eradicated.

[sjr09 155]

You have cockroaches like delfino, local police and more then likely immigration officials who see foreigners as a feed bag!

I apologize if I misunderstood your comment. We do pray and hope there will be less "cockroaches" in the police force and immigration and the rest of the gov't offices so cases like these will be minimized if not eradicated.

[Richie Rich 70]

A couple who fled to safety in Bangkok after being banged up in the Philippines on adultery charges are to feature in ‘Locked Up Abroad’ on National Geographic Television this week.

David Scott, from Swindon, Wilts, and Cynthia Reyes, from Manila, made their break for freedom after colleague Andy Chant and myself took up their case in the media in the UK.

At one time it seemed their backs were completely against the wall. Divorce is of course illegal in the Philippines, but if you have a lot of cash it is possible to get an annulment provided both parties agree and one party admits to be mentally unbalanced.

Scores of Filipinas and foreigners may be committing adultery every day as many women in the sex trade have broken, but still legal, marriages. Cynthia was decidedly not in the sex trade. She was actually head of housekeeping at a hotel in Dubai.

David, Cynthia and baby Janina outside the British Embassy in Bangkok after getting the good news

David and Cynthia had met on the internet and he flew out to meet her in Manila. She got pregnant and when he flew back for the birth both were arrested at gunpoint by police and jailed on the orders of Cynthia’s estranged husband, who had heard about the relationship and apparently saw an opportunity to make some money.

Cynthia and baby Janina on the flight from the Philippines

When their child was born just a few days after getting bail British Embassy officials told the couple that under Philippines law Cynthia’s estranged husband was the father. Everywhere they went the couple was faced with demands for cash. They finally had to buy themselves out of the country through Immigration.

In fact this was a financial merry go round with seemingly almost everyone wanting a piece of the action. Luckily friends back home manage to raise to cash for David and Cynthia and their case was taken up by a sympathetic British M.P.

Having escaped to Bangkok David and Cynthia spent half the time at my home and half the time with my colleague Andy Chant, while DNA paternity tests were done and the Home Office in the UK finally relented and agreed to admit the family into Britain and notified the British Embassy to issue the relevant visas.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/view-story.php?sid=411

I watched the documentary on NG last night .It was very touching . It shows how love can previal despite all the odds against them .