Bontoc priest cited in 2 sex cases Filipino Reporter July 4, 2008 Madangeng, a native of Hingyon, Ifugao, has denied the accusations of "Twinkle," 17, and "Crystal," 15. "I am a man of the cloth and I could not have committed the alleged acts which are in total violation of my vocation," he said. "The charges hurled against me are without basis and false and are being made by the complainant to mitigate any reaction which her parents would have against her after she was discovered to have been dating a man in Bontoc."  FULL TEXT MANILA - The parish priest of Sta. Rita in Bontoc, Mountain Province was charged anew on Monday with five counts of rape and seven counts of acts of lasciviousness by a 17-year-old girl after a 15-year-old filed sexual abuse charges against him last year.  Two other victims have reported being abused by Fr. Gabriel Madangeng Jr. and one has reportedly already agreed to settle out of court. All the victims are convent girls and minors. Madangeng, a native of Hingyon, Ifugao, has denied the accusations of "Twinkle," 17, and "Crystal," 15. "I am a man of the cloth and I could not have committed the alleged acts which are in total violation of my vocation," he said. "The charges hurled against me are without basis and false and are being made by the complainant to mitigate any reaction which her parents would have against her after she was discovered to have been dating a man in Bontoc." Madangeng filed a motion to review the charges against him and is awaiting the decision of the Department of Justice. Bishop Leonardo Medroso, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Canon Law, said in an interview over Radio Veritas that the case must be immediately resolved to minimize the scandal. "The superior in the diocese must act immediately to determine the truth of the accusations," he said. "Nasisira ang pangalan ng pari e, kung innocent siya, di nasira na ang kanyang pangalan. O kung to too talaga, yun na, nasisira din ang community." The Tagbilaran, Bohol prelate said that under Church rules, the bishop of the diocese where Madangeng belongs has jurisdiction over the case. Bishop Rodolfo Beltran who heads the Vicariate of Bontoc-Lagawe has not issued any statement so far. Twinkle claimed Madangeng began raping her from Aug. 3 until Dec. 11, 2006 inside her room at the Sta. Rita Parish convent when she was 15. Psychologist Lindsey Cosme Ekid said Twinkle "exhibits covert anxiety, stemming from feelings of guilt and inadequacy." Crystal's sworn statement given to the National Bureau of Investigation in Baguio City said Madangeng tied her arms and legs to a bed then touched her private parts while threatening her with harm if she shouted for help.

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