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From Times Online
April 21, 2008

Briton locked up for adultery escapes Philippines prison with baby

Alexi Mostrous

A Briton escaped from the Philippines with his girlfriend and baby daughter after being threatened with seven years in jail for adultery, it was revealed today.

David Scott, 36, a plasterer from Swindon, is now in Thailand and petitioning the British government to allow the whole family to return to the United Kingdom.

He was remanded in custody last year with his married girlfriend Cynthia Delfino, 29. The couple were accused of adultery by officials in the devoutly Catholic country.

They were told that their daughter, Janina, was to be handed over to Ms Delfino’s estranged husband, Noriel Delfino, on the grounds that the child was born before the Delfinos’ marriage was annulled, officials said.

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Janina was conceived in the Philippines in April last year. Mr Scott was arrested on December 30 after flying out to visit Ms Delfino.

Mr Delfino, who split from his wife several years ago, called the police after she refused to pay him £7,000 for the "loss of face" he suffered after he discovered she was dating a foreigner.

Having spent New Year in jail, the couple were granted bail after giving Filipino officials a £1,000 bribe. Janina was born weeks later.

The couple and their baby fled to Bangkok. They now intend to have DNA tests to prove Mr Scott is Janina’s father before applying to get her a British passport.

Mr Scott is hoping UK authorities will allow his family to come and live in Britain with him.

A spokesman for Anne Snelgrove, Mr Scott’s MP in Swindon, said she had made representations on his behalf to British officials.

Recalling his ordeal, Mr Scott said: “They charged us and put us in a large cell with scores of others. It was filthy and rats would come and go as they pleased.

“Three days later we were eventually offered bail of about £150, but we had to pay over £1,000 under the table just to get it. I could see this case was not about right or wrong. It was about who could make money. As soon as we got out of sight we just ran.”

In reference to the comment from Snow in Manila, yes it is true that Adultery happens everywhere in the Philippines. I should know, My Filipino wife commited Adultery with a British man who lives in Cebu. I am going to file an Adultery complaint this month in the Philippines to put them both in jail

Steve Schwartz, Brandon, Florida

Why should the husband be able to raise the baby? In lots of places a child born in marriage is legally the husband's but in most CIVILISED countries they wouldn't take a child from it's natural father and allow the legal father to raise it! And they wouldn't throw them in jail either. How stupid!

Lori, Hamilton, Bermuda

its sad to say that when filipino comitted a crime in a foreign country, he has to follow the laws from that country. whereas, when foreigner commited a crime in the phils, it doesnt matter as long as money works on it..how pathetic!its so unfair..
were not talking what race r u from, respect law.

henry bravo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Call me cynical but wouldn't it be easier to say that you're NOT a UK citizen and you want to bring your family over?

Gary, Birmingham, West Midlands

this made the local news down the West Country. What it doesn't say is that they met via the internet. Couldn't he just have dated a local girl? Does he enjoy making life more complicated than it is? What is it with men who have these fetishes anyway?

Greg, Exeter, UK

come on Miriada - not everywhere's as up to date as Swansea

tony, Xianyang, China

i agee one hundred per cent with veiwer miriada i been waiting for two years for my lady from the philippines who has been seperated from her ex for over twenty some year she filedc a annullment case since last year and he got remarried illegally and still hasn;t sign the annullment papers because he is in a hiding the philppines governmemt needs take care of there dirty laundry before they convict foreigns

lester, port orange, united states

I have known David all his life and he would never do this on purpose , i know that he loves her and all he wants to do is make a life for his family in th UK ,it just goes to show how little we have progressed from the neolithic times !!!! 7000 for loss of face !!!!

Darren Thelwall, Swindon, UK

Ah, morality prevails....

they had to spend £1,000 in bribes to get bail at £150, because of charges of adultery in a "devoutly catholic country."

What a world!

Dan, Portland, US

He broke the law in another country. He was offered a financial way out and didn't take it.

Moral of the story: don't break the law in a foreign land.

pu li, Guangxi,

"loss of face" he suffered after he discovered she was dating a foreigner.
WHAT THE HELL IS THE MATTER WITH PEOPLE!!!!!!
she was dating some guy from another country. so what?
The world is supposed to be modern, isnt it?!?!

miriada, Pontardawe (Swansea), Cymru

Adultery happens everywhere in the Philippines. So many Filipinos have 2 families, and the 'girly' bars and massage parlours are everywhere to be found. Having sex in the Philippines is easy and cheap - the arrest of the Briton was just a ploy to get money from the foreigner

Snow, Manila,

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