Ex-Simala monk faces another estafa case

CEBU, Philippines - Another charge for estafa was filed yesterday against the former monk who filed libel charges against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and five others before the Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Pastora Superable filed another estafa case against Venancio Cabillon, also known as Frater Paul Mary, before the Provincial Prosecutors Office after accusing the ex-monk of asking her money and mobile phone load credits despite being “disconnected from the monastery.”

Superable in her affidavit said that on January 9, Cabillon came to her store and asked for a donation of P500 saying that he would leave the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration (MMEA) and would be going to another monastery. She said she gave Cabillon the amount as she believed that it was still part of his mission and that the money would serve to help him in his transportation expenses.

Superable also accused Cabillon that he asked her for load credits for a period of two months which amounted to P1,200.

It was then later that she found out that Cabillon is no longer connected with the MMEA.

“The act of Frater Paul Mary collecting money and load from me with the use of deceit and or abuse of trust and confidence has caused me damage and prejudice,” she said in her counter affidavit.

The case was raffled again to Prosecutor Jerome Abarca who also handled the libel case the ex-monk filed against Vidal.

Earlier, Abelio Mangila, prior superior of the MMEA shrine in Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga town, filed the complaint for estafa against Cabillon before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office. Another Marian monk, who claimed to have been sexually molested twice by Cabillon, also filed acts of lasciviousness against the latter. The 26-year-old monk, whose name is withheld by The FREEMAN, claimed he was sexually molested by Cabillon on December 31, 2008 inside the Marian Monks Monastery, where he was assigned to ring the bell at midnight.

Mangila also charged Cabillon of estafa for allegedly misappropriating more than P500,000 cash and assorted items or donations for the Monastery of Our Lady in Hilongos, Leyte.

Mangila, who is known by his religious name as Frater Martin Mary, said that he entrusted assorted items and cash donations all worth P557,053.50 for their sister monastery in Leyte to Cabillon.

According to Mangila, Cabillon requested for transfer to Leyte after he was allegedly investigated by the MMEA council for violation of his vows of chastity and obedience.

Mangila said he took the opportunity to send donations to their sister monastery in Leyte by asking Cabillon to bring the items since he was going there.

On January 9, Mangila said, Cabillon left for Leyte with P200,000 cash and several items such as monstrance and tabernacle, priest’s stole, gold necklace for the Virgin Mary, camera, karaoke and chairs.

The complainant said he was assuming that the items were delivered to the monastery in Leyte, but the prior superior of the monastery in Leyte, Frater Francis Mary, later denied receiving the items.

Mangila said they were surprised that Cabillon was seen in barangay Labangon, here in the city, asking solicitation few days after he supposedly left for Leyte. – Jasmin R. Uy/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)