The Cathnews
August 30, 2011
http://www.cathnewsindia.com/2011/08/30/diocese-looks-into-priests-rape-charge/
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| The residence of Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos |
A diocese has formed a committee to review allegations of rape made by an 18-year-old against a parish priest, a bishop in the Diocese of Butuan in the southern province of Agusan del Norte in the Philippines said yesterday.
The parish priest of St Anne in Tubay town, Father Raul Cabonce, is facing charges of two counts of rape, child abuse and acts of lasciviousness, filed last Thursday at the provincial prosecutor's office.
The complainant, a high school student who was a domestic worker at the convent, claimed the priest began molesting her in September last year and that she was raped on February 27 and then again on March 3. A third attempt allegedly was made on March 14 but the girl fought it off.
Bishop Juan de Dior Pueblos of Butuan said a recommendation will be issued after the investigation, though he offered no further details.
A local NGO helping the victim said Fr Cabonce has been transferred to the bishop's residence, but Bishop Pueblos declined to comment on the priest's whereabouts or those of the alleged victim.
Fr Cabonce has denied the allegations on numerous occasions. In a radio interview in July, he denied raping the girl and urged the public to "look into the background of the victim's family."
The complainant's mother, a catechist friend of the priest, allowed her daughter to be taken under his care to do some chores in the convent in exchange for schooling.
The priest accused local politicians of orchestrating a campaign to destroy him because of his defense of mining activities in the town.
The militant women's group Gabriela, with the help of the Missionary Sisters of Mary, assisted the complainant in filing the charges. Gabriela's Atel Hijos admitted that the nuns were divided since it involved a priest.
She said getting medical examinations alone was difficult because some local doctors and hospitals refused to examine the complainant.
Hijos said they had to go to Manila for the medical examinations, which she said confirmed evidence of sexual activity.
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