PHILIPPINES
Sun-Star

By
PUBLIO BRIONES III

I KNEW it. I knew that girl was up to no good. When I saw her on TV being interviewed a few weeks ago, there was something off. I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

When a minor goes on camera to tell the public that she has been sexually molested–by a priest, no less–I’d expect, I don’t know, a quiver in her voice. At the very least. But no, not even a stammer.

And she didn’t display any of the tell-tale signs of sexual abuse. According to the US Department of Justice, teens that have been are usually aggressive, depressed, anxious, suicidal or afraid of intimacy or closeness, among others. The website, though, had a disclaimer: “The occurrence of one indicator does not necessarily mean a person has experienced sexual abuse. Additionally, indicators of sexual abuse can vary widely…