2 more fiscals for Vidal libel case

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba is adding two more prosecutors to the panel that handles the libel case against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and five other church officials who were accused by a former Marian monk of maligning him.

Petralba was prompted to assign more prosecutors to handle the preliminary investigation because of the counter-charges that were filed against ex-Simala monk Venancio Cabillon.

The provincial prosecutor’s office has consolidated the three counter-charges against Cabillon to the libel complaint he filed against Cardinal Vidal, Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, Father Marnell Mejia and Abelio Mangila, prior superior of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration Shrine in Lindogon, Simala Sibonga town over an alleged defamatory notice to the public printed at the Archdiocesan Newsletter, “Bag-ong Lungsoranon”, considering that these are interrelated.

Since Cabillon filed the libel complaint there were already three counter-charges filed against him. These include acts of lasciviousness and two complaints for estafa.

Petralba said that because of the number of complaints that are now pending for the panel to resolve, she saw the need to assign two more prosecutors to help them. At present, only prosecutors Gerome Abarca and Maria Luisa Ong are handling the preliminary investigation.

Petralba said she intends to assign two more whom she will choose on Thursday during the meeting she called for. Three of the assistant provincial prosecutors who are handling cases in the towns - Luis Calderon, Venice Balansag and Edwin Renegado - are being eyed to join the panel.

Cabillon first filed a complaint for libel against the cardinal and five other church officials claiming he was maligned through the publication which saw print at the archdiocesan newsletter.

Two weeks after he filed the complaint, he was also charged with estafa and acts of lasciviousness. 

His former superior, Mangila, and another Marian monk who claimed to have been sexually molested twice by Cabillon filed the complaints.

The 26-year-old monk claimed he was sexually molested by Cabillon on December 31, 2008 inside the Marian Monks Monastery.

The complainant said he was then assigned to ring the bell at midnight. While waiting for the time to come, the complainant said, he fell asleep and to his surprise he was awakened by Cabillon’s groaning while allegedly touching his private part.

According to the complainant, he immediately stood up and pushed Cabillon away. The complainant claimed it was the second time that Cabillon did such to him.

He said that his first meeting with Cabillon was in a monastery in Balibago, Angeles City in Pampanga while he was yet an aspirant. Cabillon was his novice master.

According to the complainant, Cabillon also sexually molested him during that time but he did not muster the courage to report it to his superior. The alleged sexual advances happened in November 2000.

The complainant said he started to evade Cabillon until he was transferred in Sibonga in 2002. Four years later, Cabillon was also transferred in Sibonga.

The complainant said he tried his very best to evade Cabillon until that December 31, 2008 incident wherein the latter took advantage while he was asleep.

Cabillon was also accused of misappropriating more than P500,000 in 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 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 it 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.

Mangila 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, denied receiving the items.        

Mangila said they were surprised that Cabillon was seen in barangay Labangon asking solicitation when he had supposedly left for Leyte. On top of it, another complaint for estafa was filed the other day by Pastora Superable who accused Cabillon of asking her money and mobile phone load credits despite being “disconnected from the monastery.” – Fred P. Languido/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)