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	Leyte-based Priest Faces Rape Charges ABS-CBN July 11, 2010 http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/07/11/10/leyte-based-priest-faces-rape-charges MANILA, Philippines – A Leyte-based priest is facing criminal charges after a 17-year-old girl accused him of rape. The victim, known only as Mutya, met the priest while she was still active in a youth organization working under the Pedro Calungsod Mission Station. She claimed the first incident happened when she stayed over at the convent in November. “Wag daw akong magsumbong kasi mamamatay daw ako. Sinaktan niya ako, sinampal. Iyak ako nang iyak nun! Pagkatapos naligo siya nun sa banyo nya, tapos pinakita niya sa akin ang katawan niya. Sabi niya sagrado ito, lalo na itong sa baba. Yun, pinwersa niya ako. Tinakot niya ako,” Mutya said. The victim said she was raped several times after that. She alleged the priest even had to follow her to the boarding school. The priest supposedly warned her not to disclose anything to anyone. The last incident happened in February this year, traumatizing Mutya. She has failed to report to school since then. ABS-CBN Leyte tried to get the side of the priest, but officials in the convent said he has already been re-assigned somewhere else. In a text message however, the priest apologized for the incident and asked that the charges be dropped. Leyte Archbishop Jose Palma however denied the allegations. In a text message, Palma said the allegation against the priest “is a lie.”
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