EDITORIAL - Where are you Fr. Ben?

The Cebu City Prosecutor''s Office has served the subpoena for Fr. Benedicto Ejares, who has been accused of sexually harassing high school students during confession, at the Archbishop''s Palace, the priest''s last known address. Fr. Ben, however, was not there to receive the subpoena. In fact nobody has seen him since the alleged misconduct was reported by the media. Where could Fr. Ben be?

The students of the Abellana National High School participated in a Life in the Spirit seminar organized by the Department of Education and the Oasis of Love November last year. Fr. Ben was one of the priests invited to hear confessions in relation to the seminar. However, 20 girls who participated in the seminar later complained that the priest allegedly harassed them.

But only seven of the 20 students who complained to the DSWD of being harassed by the priest filed affidavits with the National Bureau of Investigation. A student said the priest "pinched and tickled her forearm" and also claimed that she saw the priest "toy" with another student''s bra strap.

Since the alleged harassment was reported to the media and the authorities, nobody has heard of Fr. Ben. His identity was even kept secret up until the NBI filed the case against him. There is so much mystery in Fr. Ben''s case that the public cannot help but wonder if someone has been protecting him and why he needs to hide.

The best defense against accusations is the truth. If Fr. Ben feels he has been wrongly accused then all he has to do is tell the truth and present himself and his side of the incident. Surely, this is an easier way to deal with the situation rather than shying away from the public eye and keeping the public guessing on his whereabouts. Those who are close to Fr. Ben could do well in advising him to face the charges filed against him so he can clear his name if the accusations are not true.