Priest, 3 others convicted for exorcism

BACOLOD CITY — For performing exorcism on two women against their will, a priest of the Philippine Independent Church and three companions were convicted of grave coercion and meted six months to four years and two months in jail.

Judge Gorgonio Ybañez, however, cleared Fr. Jerry Siason and fellow accused Lolita Lastierre, Lilia Lastierre and Milagros Varona, along with 30 other people, of charges of robbery in band.

Court records showed that Siason’s group forcibly entered the compound of psychic healer Wilfredo Tortosa here and performed exorcism on complainants Aurea Gamo and Delfina Villanueva. — Antonieta Lopez