A History of Lies
First Lie: The False Holidays
On September 3, 2024, Regina Magundayao Valdez committed international child abduction by retaining Gerard and Laia in the Philippines, separating them from their sisters and father in Spain while she's in the process of a divorce, which had until then been amicable. The father had agreed to let the children travel with their mother to the Philippines to see her family. However, Regina then demanded a significant amount of money from the father and warned the children’s sisters that if the father didn’t comply, they would never see their siblings again. Despite offers from the family in Spain, Regina did not want to return the children to their habitual residence, forcing the father to return home alone. Regina effectively tore the family apart.
A few days later, Regina moved with the children to Santor (Delfin Albano, Isabela) and informed the family and neighbors that she had extended their vacation. The careless and unpleasant appearance of the children raised the curiosity of the neighbors, who suspected that Regina was hiding something and that the children were not there for a pleasure trip.
Second Lie: Abandonment of the Father
Regina had lived with her husband for over two years, but they were not an actual couple for most of that time. The husband had tried to discuss divorce with her on several occasions, and eventually, they both agreed to separate. They remained together only for daily family responsibilities, such as caring for the children or attending social events. The husband had agreed not to pursue divorce until Regina obtained her Spanish nationality, allowing her to live in Spain independently without depending on him.
Unable to tell the truth to her neighbors in Santor, Regina fabricated a story about her husband leaving her for another woman, portraying herself as the victim. Now, according to Regina's version, this was no longer an extended vacation; instead, the unfaithful man she loved had abandoned her.
Third Lie: She’s the One Who Wanted a Divorce
The sisters of the abducted children wrote to Regina daily, urging her to return their siblings to Spain. While Regina told her neighbors that she had been abandoned, she informed the children’s sisters that their father was to blame for the divorce because she did not want it.
Regina sent them messages claiming that she only wanted the judge in Spain to finalize the divorce so she could live a peaceful life without her husband.
Fourth Lie: The Husband Did Not Want to Divorce
As the case of international child abduction garnered attention and Regina's life became more complicated, she changed her story yet again. She started telling her neighbors that she was the one who wanted the divorce, while her husband wanted to stay with her.
Regina seems to believe that the neighbors are naive or forgetful, as she tells them a different lie every month. Moreover, she is convinced that she is fooling them. This is not the first time Regina has shown disdain for her neighbors in Santor, whom she has described as dangerous people.
The Notary Disproves Regina's Final Lie
Given the numerous lies, Regina did not consider the differences in the notarial systems between Spain and the Philippines. In the Philippines, a notary is a licensed lawyer who certifies signatures and the authenticity of documents, among other procedures. In contrast, in Spain, a notary must not be a practicing lawyer; they serve as a public official whose main role is to provide public attestation.
This means that while the process in the Philippines can be more complex, in Spain, it is relatively straightforward, since the Spanish notary is impartial and does not represent either party in a dispute.
The husband only needed to visit the notary to certify several important messages. These messages demonstrate that Regina refused to attend court to finalize the divorce, despite knowing that the divorce proceedings had already been initiated in Spain.
The procedure for authenticating messages is noteworthy and will be explained in detail in the next article.