"Sex, lies and photograph": Lawsuits may fly over Simala mess

CEBU, Philippines - The Roman Catholic Church in Cebu is taking a two-pronged approach to the “sex, lies and photograph” controversy that has threatened to undermine Marian devotion at the hugely popular shrine to the Virgin Mary in Simala in the town of Sibonga.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, the media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said in an interview on GMA 7’s Balitang Bisdak that the Church in Cebu is ready to investigate the lurid allegations hurled against monks running the shrine but is at the same time consulting lawyers on what legal action to take in case priests have been maligned by the stories.

Dakay, however, remains confident the controversy will not undermine devotion to the Virgin Mary, saying those who are steadfast in their faith will stay on track. But he acknowledged that those whose faith barely skims the surface may likely switch religions.

The views of Dakay were shared by many among the hordes of devotees who continued to flock to the shrine seemingly unperturbed by the recent events.

Venancio “Brother Paul” Cabillon, who has been expelled by monks running the shrine of the Our Lady of the Holy Eucharist, along with two or three others, went to media to expose what he claimed were sexual trysts involving the monks, gun hoards ostensibly for protection, and stashes of huge sums of cold cash and jewelry from collections, donations and lucrative commercialization of religious artifacts and services.

While the monks have refused to talk to media, the allegations were angrily denied by both devotees themselves and those who work closely with the monks in running the shrine.

Many of those defending the monks say it is Cabillon himself who has been doing many of the things he is accusing the monks of.

Even as the controversy swirled around the shrine for the second day, the flow of devotees seemed to see no abatement. And work on a massive extension of the shrine is evident, the size alone suggesting expense was not a problem.

The church at the shrine was built largely by donations big and small. Big money is also being made from the sale of a dizzying array of religious articles from multi-colored candles for every conceivable supplication to rosaries of every conceivable material to prayer cards of every conceivable intention.

Outside the walls, an entire community also thrives on residual commerce, from food to healing oil.

With so much depending on keeping the flow of devotees going, it came as no surprise to many that everyone has ganged up on Cabillon — the whistle-blower getting a dose of his own medicine.

Cabillon himself is threatening to file his own charges, probably for libel, against those he accused of maligning him over the publication of his photo and notice regarding his ouster from the group. The notice and photo of his ouster was published in the “Lungsuranon,” the official newsletter of the Archdiocese of Cebu.

In that notice, which was published last month, the public was warned not to transact any kind of business with Cabillon.

While the monks have refused to talk to media, a man named Loy Savellon, who claims to be an acolyte at the shrine, unloaded his own bag of unsavory allegations against Cabillon, including trying to blackmail the leader of the monks.

Savellon confirmed the monks owned guns but that there were for their protection as the shrine has had several brushes with thieves and other intruders. He said the monks were trained by no less than the NBI and the police.

On one occasion, according to Savellon, the head monk, Prater Martin, was robbed of at least P14,000. On another occasion, Prater Martin allegedly caught a robber trying to make off with some jewelry from the icon of the Virgin Mary and actually fired shots at the intruder, who managed to escape unhurt.

Cabillon claimed sexual encounters took place involving monks novices and even guards.

As to the photo of a “Miss Gay” contest held inside the shrine, Cabillon clarified that it was not actually a “Miss Gay” contest but a mere comical skit performed by the monks last February during their anniversary, and that they were only portraying ladies from different countries.

But despite the controversies, devotees said they do not make the pilgrimage to the shrine because of the monks but because of the Virgin Mary, and the many miracles attributed to her.

“Our faith will keep us going,” said one.

Members of the Lay Servants of the Holy Rosary, devotees who offer their time and services for free for the shrine and help in cleaning and maintaining the premises, refused to comment, preferring to wait for the church to issue its own statement.

The devotees said that though saddened by the controversy, they imbroglio only involved some personalities within the group of the monks and did not affect their own devotion to the Mother of God.

Several perceived “miracles” have already been associated with the Blessed Virgin at Simala. — with AJ de la Torre/JST   (THE FREEMAN)