PHILIPPINES
International Business Times
By Ananya Roy
August 1, 2017
The archbishop-emeritus of the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines has initiated an investigation into the arrest of a priest while he was bringing a 13-year-old girl to a motel in Marikina City on July 28. The priest, Arnel Lagarejos, has been accused of sexually abusing the girl more than once.
Lagarejos, the parish priest of St John the Baptist in Taytay city in the Philippines’ Rizal province, was arrested following complaints from the victim and her mother. He was relieved of his duties immediately after his arrest.
The victim said the man had booked her through a pimp and molested her on two previous occasions. The day he was arrested was the third booking.
She also alleged that the priest had threatened her by pointing a gun at her against going out with any other man. She also said that she did not know the man abusing her was a priest.
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