Disciple accused of molesting girls

CHARGES were filed against a “disciple” of a religious organization in Tudela town, Cebu who’s accused of molesting three girls in 2004 and 2009.

The respondent, who’s described as a “disciple” of El Shaddai, is facing charges of acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors’ Office.

The respondent, a resident of Tudela in the Camtoes Group of Islands, north Cebu, is at large. A preliminary investigation will get underway.

The abuses occured on separate occasions either in the suspect’s home, at a friend’s house and in one of their homes.

The respondent will be given a chance to submit his counter-affidavit to refute the allegations.

In each account, the victims said the suspect offered to massage them and ended up touching their private parts.

Cebu Daily News is withholding the name of the respondents pending his answer to the allegations.

In their affidavits, the girls said he touched their privates sometime in 2004 and 2009.

One of the girls said the respondent offered to massage her wrist but ended up molesting her.

The other girls aged 14 and 12 said they hold the accused in high regard because he was their “disciple” in their ministry.

The affidavits didn’t explain whyit took them a long time to file the complaint against the respondent. The complaint was filed before the prosecutors’ office only last Monday. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol