Church probes rape complaint vs Iloilo priest

ILOILO CITY – The Archdiocese of Jaro has initiated an investigation into a woman’s accusations that an assistant parish priest, who she claimed she had been intimate with for some time, raped her earlier this month when she decided to end their relationship.

"We would like to tell you that we are saddened by this case. We did not want this to happen. As much as possible, we don’t want this to happen again," said Fr. Excel Jaen, spokesman of Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, referring to the case involving Fr. Martin Alarcon.

Fr. Phillip Neil Antenor Cruz, of the Clergy Commission, said Lagdameo has asked Alarcon to stop performing his functions as assistant parish priest of the St. Therese of Avila Parish in Carles town "until the controversy is resolved."

Cruz said the Standards Group or the Archdiocesan Tribunal, comprised of priests and lay people, is now investigating the woman’s accusations against Alarcon.

"The commission is interested in the truth. We will not be blindly protecting the priest," he added.

Jaen quoted Lagdameo as saying that he is waiting for the findings of the panel, headed by Msgr. Higinio Velarde, so he "may act in the best interest of truth and justice."

"One thing we assure you, we have taken the matter seriously," Lagdameo was further quoted as saying.

The woman, who filed a rape complaint against Alarcon with the prosecutor’s office last Wednesday, said the priest forced himself into her last Feb. 1 in his house in Leganes town after she wanted to end their relationship.

The rape allegedly happened again on Feb. 6 when she returned to Alarcon’s house to tell his mother about the previous incident. She claimed the priest also threatened and beat her up.

The woman said she met Alarcon through a friend who was related to the priest. After 30 days of courtship, they became lovers and would meet in his Leganes home, she said.

She admitted that as "normal sweethearts, something intimate had happened to us that he was able to take my womanhood."

The archdiocese has had its share of controversies in the past involving the misconduct of its priests. About a decade ago, during the stint of the late Archbishop Jose Piamonte, Fr. Jess Siva solemnized the marriage of Fr. Hector Canto despite the objections of the Church.