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	'My Faith and My God Has Kept Me Strong,' Fr. Alarcon Says As Rape Charge Hangs By Florence F. Hibionada News Today [Philippines] March 16, 2007 http://www.thenewstoday.info/2007/03/16/my.faith.and.my.god.has.kept.me.strong.html "Prayers have been my way of life yet more than ever, I have made it the center of my existence." Such were the words of Fr. Martin Alarcon, a day after he came out in public to officially counter the rape charges filed by a self-confessed girlfriend. Stripped by the Jaro Archdiocese with his church duties as assistant parish priest of the Sta. Teresa de Avila in Carles, Iloilo, the 31 year-old Catholic priest denied all accusations particularly the romantic and sexual relations with the 25 year-old complainant. In a two-paged affidavit released to The News Today (TNT), Fr. Alarcon began with a vehement and strong denial on the two counts of rape which was alleged to have occurred February 1 and February 6 of this year. He then went on to disclose supposed persistence of the complainant to locate his whereabouts prior to the rape charge as backed by a separate affidavit of a male witness. And she wanted a loan of P40,000, Fr. Alarcon revealed, "according to her she would spend said amount in going to Korea to follow a Korean citizen that she tutored in the English language. I told her that I cannot give her such big amount and further told her not to bother me anymore." Fr. Alarcon in his defense further expressed surprise on the rape charges even as he posed a question on why the complainant would return to the Alarcon residence on February 6th if she was sexually assaulted five days back. "I am deeply saddened by all these. And I admit that human as I am, these past weeks have been the darkest and most hurtful moment of my life - foremost as a priest and then as son and a brother," he began in a TNT interview. "But my faith and my God has kept me strong. And there is this realization that while I have been seemingly crucified, God has provided me the reason to fight back and believe in justice. My family, my fellow priests and laymen have been most supportive and has made the past days bearable with messages of encouragement." In between the interview Fr. Alarcon would pause while repeatedly posing a question as to whether he is doing the right thing in granting the personal meeting. "Grabe ang tension kag pagkahuya ko kag sang pamilya ko. Naguba gid ako sang husto (The tension was terrible and me and my family have been greatly shamed) but again, you have to know that my faith is intact," he meekly continued. "I got into this crisis as a priest and with God's grace I shall get out of it as a stronger priest." Asked on whether forgiveness is still easy for him, Fr. Alarcon quickly replied, "definitely yes. The essence of forgiveness – if God can forgive, how much more us?" Pressed for details on how he met the complainant, Fr. Alarcon said she was one of those who came for his anniversary January 13th of this year. The complainant was introduced by a common friend, Leonisa Bullos whose affidavit was among those submitted in his defense. Bullos, the TNT gathered, disclosed that four days after the first meeting with Fr. Alarcon, the complainant admitted her attraction to the young priest. One admission that reportedly had Bullos to openly discourage her friend reminding her that the subject of her affection is a member of the clergy. Another teener who identified herself as the complainant's "bestfriend" also executed a sworn statement stating her knowledge of the complainant's romantic liaisons with a Korean citizen and another boyfriend. On his fourth year into the priesthood, Fr. Alarcon said he wanted to be a priest back in Third grade. Upon ordination in January 13, 2003, he said he was most proud and happy to have his mentor, Fr. Agustin Somosa to be amongst the audience. "I don't know why all of these happened. She (referring to the complainant) is seeking for justice. And I am seeking the same," Fr. Alarcon ended.
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