Priest admits Church’s attempt to pacify altar boys

Church money was used in the attempt to buy the silence of three of four former Basilica del Santo Niño altar boys alleged to have been sexually molested by Augustinian priest Rev. Fr. Apolinario "Jing" Mejorada. Ranking church officials also allegedly knew of the coverup attempt.

Rev. Fr. Mario Mejorada, brother of Fr. King Mejorada, yesterday told reporters the money was from the Augustinian order and that he himself handed it over to the three boys.

The alleged payoff took place sometime in October 2000 at the office of the boys’ lawyers, Jorge Esparagoza.

"The money that was given to the former altar boys did not come from my family. It came from the Augustinian community and I think we had benefactors, "said Fr. Mario Mejorada.

A total of P320,000 was paid with each boy receiving P120,000. The fourth boy was in the United States at the time and was not included in the deal.

One of the boys, now 22 and who prefers to hide under the name of Dong, claimed it was Fr. Mario Mejorada who arranged the deal on behalf of his brother, Dong who is acting as spokesman for the boys, claimed yesterday that when Fr. Mario Mejorada tried to arrange the deal, they were assured by the priest that Cebu archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal already knew of the plan, having talked to the prelate himself.

"Gi-ingnan mi ni Father Mejorada nga nakahibalo ng nakaistorya na nila si Cardinal Vidal," Dong told The Freeman.

Dong said they engaged Esparagoza because they wanted their testimony in writing in case their complaint against Fr. Jing Mejorada reaches court. But talks between Esparagoza and the lawyer of Fr. Jing Mejorada ended in an agreement that the best recourse would be to go for a settlement.

In exchange for the money, plus an apology and an assurance that Fr. Jing Mejorada would be expelled, the boys signed an affidavit of desistance and a waiver. — The Freeman News Service