In Danao City: 'Scholar' cries rape vs. priest

An 18-year-old woman lodged a complaint against the parish priest of barangay Maslog, Danao City before the city prosecutor's office yesterday for allegedly raping her three times since last year.

The victim (name witheld), a resident of barangay Sabang, Danao City and a first year college student of a school in Danao City accused Rev. Fr. Jose 'Joey' Belcina, parish priest of Saint Francis de Assisi parish in barangay Maslog.

The victim represented by lawyer Chezie Demecillo filed a complaint for rape.

In her affidavit, the victim said that she knew Fr. Belcina since her second year in high school because he (Belcina) used to officiate mass every Sunday at six o' clock in the evening at Sabang Catholic Church, the time when she also regularly goes to church.

She recalled that last August 2004, Fr. Belcina, after a mass, approached her and asked her if she was currently studying in college and she said no because her parents have no means to support her.

She said that Fr. Belcina then asked her if she was interested to go to college. She said that she want to study education in a local college in barangay Sabang, but could not give him an answer yet.

She further said that on May 2005, Fr. Belcina asked her again if she was still interested to go to college, because he (Belcina) will help her financially, but she was still undecided that time.

When they met again in their place, Fr. Belcina asked her if she accepted his offer to finance her college education and she accepted the offer.

She said that Fr. Belcina supported her in going to college with the condition that during her free time she should help in the convent and the church.

In July 22, 2005, the victim, who was still 17 years old then, said that Fr. Belcina called her to his room in the convent.

But inside the room, she was surprised when suddenly Fr. Belcina hugged her then started kissing her on the forehead, face, and then her mouth.

"When I tried to resist, Fr. Belcina told me that he has a gun and then pointed to the direction where he placed the gun in the shelf above his bed," the victim said.

She admitted that she was so scared when she saw the black gun because that was the first time she saw a gun that big.

She further said that she tried to resist the intentions of Fr. Belcina to her but failed.

The priest allegedly raped her and told her not to tell others of the incident.

The second incident happened last December 25, 2005, when she assisted preparing the food during the party at he church

She said that while she was cleaning the dining table, Fr. Belcina approached her and told her to put the fruits in the refrigerator and to go to his room so she can wash his underwear.

When she entered the room of the priest, she noticed that the priest was wearing only his shorts.

The accused asked her to massage his feet, which she did while sitting on a chair beside his bed. The priest was lying down.

Fr. Belcina asked her to transfer to the bed while she was massaging him so that it would be easier for her to do the task.

After she moved to the bed, she said that Fr. Belcina told her to stop doing the massage after a while and then he allegedly pulled her hand and forced to lie down beside him.

She said in he complaint that the accused undressed her and for the second time sexually abused her.

After consummating the act, the accused told her to put on her clothes and asked her to get money in he basket to buy soap so that she could wash his underwear.

The third incident happened last January 28 when she went to the church to see Fr. Belcina to ask him for money for their school project.

Upon her arrival at the church, she proceeded to the kitchen to wash the dishes, when Fr. Belcina went out form his room and proceeded to the dining area where she served him his food.

That after serving his dinner, the victim said she went out from the dining area and came back again after he finished eating to clean the table.

She said that she called Fr. Belcina in is room and went inside so she can ask money for school project.

While inside the room, Fr. Belcina asked her to fix his bed and then followed her.

She further said that the accused hugged her and started kissing her face and mouth.

This time, the victim said he accused pushed her and forced her to lie down on the exercise bench where she was abused.

After the incident, Fr. Belcina went to his office leaving her inside the room.

Despite the threats, she decided to inform her parents about what happened to her and they accompanied her to the Danao police last Wednesday.

The incident came to the attention of the Legal Alternatives for Women Center, Inc. in Cebu City, which assisted the victim in filling the criminal charges against the accused.

The complainant attached a medical certificate from Dra. Madelina G. Amadora of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. It stated that based on the medical evaluation, there was evidence of sexual abuse or contact.