Fr. Belcina rape case: Victim fears safety of boyfriend, who withdrew support for priest

The girl who accused Rev. Fr. Joey Belcina of raping her has expressed fears over the safety of her boyfriend who lately recanted his previous affidavit and withdrew his support for the priest to side with her in the case instead.

As of yesterday afternoon, the girl said her boyfriend has yet to communicate with her either through telephone or text messages, and the lack of information on his whereabouts at this time has worried her already.

"Nabalaka na kaayo ko kon unsa na ang nahitabo kaniya," the girl told The FREEMAN during a telephone call arranged by the Provincial Women's Council.

The victim's boyfriend previously backed the defense of Belcina and was placed under the custody of one of the supporters of the priest. The said supporter reportedly told him that Belcina promised to shoulder his expenses for the next school year.

Last Wednesday morning, he was allowed to go to a university in Cebu City to inquire about enrolment concerns, but he went instead to the PWC office at the Capitol where he bared his intention to recant his previous affidavit in support of Belcina and rally behind his girlfriend instead.

Then he submitted to the Cebu Prosecutor's Office a new affidavit denying his previous statements while admitting that he signed his previous affidavit for fear of his life.

His recantation states in part: "Napugos ko ug pirma bisan ang nahisulat sa maong affidavit supak kaayo sa akong kabubut-on kay kini dili tinuod ug wala mahiuyon sa kamatooran (I was forced to sign that affidavit even if its statements are against my will because they are not true)."

He also said his girlfriend has been good to him and all accusations against her were not true. He also denied that somebody threatened him to withdraw his affidavit supporting Belcina.

He further said: "Ako nakonsensya sa akong nahiunang affidavit ug ako nakadesider nga akong bakwion ang tanang mga akosasyon nako batok sa akong hinigugma kay kini dili tinuod ug dili gayud ako-ang personal nga pamahayag (I felt guilty over my first affidavit and I decided to recant all accusations I made against my beloved because these were not true and not my personal statements)."

The girl accused Belcina of raping her three times inside the convent since she was 17 year old but the priest had strongly denied this saying these are fabricated and politically motivated allegations.

The case is presently pending at the provincial prosecutors office for resolution. - Jose P. Sollano