Elderly US priest faces molestation raps, deportation

The 77-year-old American Catholic priest who was arrested on Wednesday in Biliran province for allegedly molesting altar boys and other minors will be deported once his cases in the country have been resolved, the Bureau of Immigration said Thursday.

Fr. Kenneth Bernard Hendricks is now detained at the immigration detention facility at Bicutan in Taguig City.

Asked if charges would be filed against the priest, immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said: “I can’t speak for other agencies, but as far as we know, there are moves to file criminal cases locally.”

Victims’ statements

“If he has a pending court case in the Philippines, we will be able to deport him once his case is resolved and if sentenced, he has to serve time,” she added.

Sandoval said immigration officials received information from US authorities about Hendricks’ activities.

“Several of his victims have come forward with their statements,” she said, adding that the priest allegedly warned the victims that they would go to prison if they told anyone about his actions. —TINA G. SANTOS