Man, 62, says he was witness to and victim of sex abuse by clergy

By Krystal Paco
KUAM
September 12, 2016

http://www.kuam.com/story/33069469/2016/09/Monday/man-62-says-he-was-witness-to-and-victim-of-sex-abuse-by-clergy

In the last few months we've heard from Roy Quintanilla, Walter Denton, Roland Sondia, Doris Concepcion on behalf of her late son Joseph "Sonny" Quinata, and Leo Tudela. Each of the men alleges they were altar boys when they were molested or raped by the hands of church clergy. And now, another man who served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Peace in Chalan Pago alleges he was a witness to as well as a victim of child sex abuse.

The year was 1964. Ramon Afaisen De Plata was an altar boy at Our Lady of Peace Parish when he alleges he and his older brother witnessed Pale Antonio Cruz and then-seminarian Anthony Apuron engaging in sexual acts with another altar boy during a sleepover at the rectory.

De Plata told KUAM News, "I woke up late in the night to use the restroom. When I entered Pale Cruz's bedroom, I saw Pale Cruz lying on the bed naked. One of the altar boys was on the bed naked. He was lying on his side."

The altar boy was performing fellatio on Pale Cruz while Apuron performed fellatio on the boy. That boy, De Plata says, is not alive today to tell his story. De Plata, who is now 62 years old, says he and his brother never talked about that sighting ever again. But De Plata would later tell his mother about other encounters he had with the priest.

De Plata says the priest would masturbate while watching him.

"As I looked inside, I saw Pale sitting on what appeared to be a loveseat, masturbating as he asked me to come into the room. I said, 'No, I'm late for school and I have to catch the bus,'" he recalled.  "About two weeks after that incident, I was passing the church social hall. Pale Cruz asked me I could help him catch the two chickens that got loose. While I was trying to catch the chickens, I noticed Pale Cruz masturbating inside the chicken coop. I immediately left without saying a word to him."

De Plata quit as an altar boy soon after. But every day, on his commute to work, he passes the Chalan Pago church and is reminded of the incidents. He says today, he's sharing his story for his grandmother, who for years worked for the church and suddenly quit during Pale Cruz's tenure. He suspects she, too, knew about the boys being molested.

"I know of others and I pray they come forward and tell their stories," he said. "So we can all heal, lift this heavy burden from our soul."

De Plata says he's not interested in pursuing any legal action because Pale Cruz is deceased.