Fugitive Pinoy Priest in Pornography Scandal Surrenders, Repatriated to US

Gma News
December 11, 2012

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/285896/pinoyabroad/crime/fugitive-pinoy-priest-in-pornography-scandal-surrenders-repatriated-to-us

A fugitive priest wanted in the United States for more than a year for possession of child pornographic materials has surrendered to Philippine officials and is now on his way back to the US to face the charges against him.

According to a report of the Iloilo-based news site The Daily Guardian on Tuesday, Father Lowe Dongor, fled the US and returned to the Philippines last year but turned himself in to the National Bureau of Investigation after months of negotiations.

Dongor, 36, had fled the US in October 2011 after entering a “not guilty” plea on charges of possession of child pornography.

The Daily Guardian said the priest, a native of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo, is accused in the US District Court of the District of Massachusetts of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP).

He was the subject of an arrest warrant requested by the FBI. He had been the associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish of the Diocese of Worcester in Massachusetts.

Dongor asked to go on administrative leave when charged and arraigned, the report added.

NBI Western Visayas director Elfren Meneses Jr. said Dongor was turned over to US authorities through their counterparts in the US Embassy in Manila.

Meneses said an NBI team, headed by agent-on-case Arnold Diaz, led the negotiation that led to Dongor's being brought to the custody of American authorities.

The Daily Guardian said an NBI team and Dongor left for the US Monday night. They will be met by US Homeland Security Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials upon arriving there.

Meneses said he is grateful to Dongor and his family "for cooperating, trusting the bureau and the justice system.”

Dongor, who claimed to be as “poor as a rat,” said he is ready to face the charges against him.

“I have to, and ready to pay for the terrible mistakes I committed to my God, my Church, my community, my family and myself. I wish I can change things and go back to my priesthood for that is what I have been dreaming of since I was six years old,” he told The Daily Guardian.

“But all of that is gone now. I have nothing to offer, no money even to hire a lawyer for my defense but I still have my faith in God and that is more than enough for me now,” he added. - VVP, GMA News