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	Priest Faces Rape Charges Daily Star [Philippines] February 22, 2007 http://www.visayandailystar.com/2007/February/22/topstory6.htm Iloilo City - A 25-year-old woman yesterday filed a criminal complaint for two counts of rape against a parish priest in Iloilo. In her affidavit filed before the Iloilo provincial prosecutor's office, Nene (not her real name), claimed that the priest raped her twice this month after she tried to end their month-long relationship. The woman, who teaches English to Korean students, was accompanied by her cousin and legal counsel Edeljulio Romero at the Hall of Justice where her complaint and affidavit were subscribed by Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Rodrigo Camacho. Fr. Ryan Teves, head of the Commission on Social Communications of the Archdiocese of Jaro, said the archdiocese could not issue a statement on the case at the moment. The priest who is assigned to one of the towns of Iloilo could not be reached for comment as of yesterday. In her affidavit, Nene said she came to know the priest through a friend who was his relative and who introduced them at the parish church where the priest is assigned. After they met, the priest would often send text messages or call her through her mobile phone, she said. He began courting her shortly after and they became lovers after a month. The alleged victim said they agreed to meet at his residence which is not in the town where he is assigned "to avoid being scandalized." She admitted that she had consensual sex with the priest. She alleged that the priest promised to leave the priesthood and marry her after a year and had also told her that he wanted to have children. But Nene said she was bothered by her conscience as their relationship went on because her lover was a priest. So when the priest asked her to go to his house on February 1, she decided to tell him that she wanted to end their relationship. But she said he refused to do so and even threatened her, forcing her to slap him on the face. The priest then allegedly grabbed both her hands and threw her on his bed and raped her, she said. The alleged victim said she pretended as if nothing had happened after the rape. She was also undecided to file a case against him despite what had happened because she said she still loved him and that because he is a priest. On February 6, Nene said she again went to the priest's house early in the morning planning to tell his mother about what he had done. But she said that when she got to his house, the priest brought her to his room and prevented her from leaving the house and again raped her. She said she managed to out of the house and went to the house of a second cousin after he went to the bathroom. Nene said she decided to go back to the priest's house later in the day when she learned that his co-priest would be going there. She said she had wanted to tell his co-priest what her lover did. But when she got there, the priest manhandled and threatened to kill her prompting her to leave the house. The alleged victim sought the help of radio station dyRI of Radio Mindanao Network in Iloilo on Feb. 7. The station's reporters advised her to report the incident to the police station. Her lawyer Edeljulio Romero said his client was committed to pursue the case even if she is aware that they would be facing difficulties because she is accusing a priest. "All she wants is justice for what had happened to her," said Romero.*NPB
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