Linked to porn case in US: Ilonggo priest apologizes

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — An Ilonggo priest who was accused of child pornography apologized to his family, relatives, and friends for giving them disappointment and subjecting them to humiliation.

Thirty-five-year-old Father Lowe Dongor also asked the public to spare his family, especially his mother, from further embarrassment.

In an exclusive interview over Bombo Radyo, the priest thanked his family and other Ilonggos who have not wavered in their support for him. This, he claimed, drove him to voluntarily surrender and face the charges against him.

Dongor also asked for prayers and moral support for him to hurdle the cases lodged against him. But more than that, he was praying that he could be able to serve as a priest again.

Last Monday, Dongor flew to the United States with members of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after he surrendered last month.

Dongor, of 51 Illinois St., Worcester, Massachusetts, was earlier suspected to be hiding in Iloilo after he disappeared before facing his trial in court on October for charges of possession of child pornography, larceny of more than $250 and larceny from a building.

Born in Iloilo, he was ordained into priesthood on June 2, 2010. He was an associate pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Worcester, Massachussetts before he was caught with videos on his laptop of girls around the ages of 10 and 11 in various stages of undressing.

Reports claimed that he was accused of stealing $40 or $50 on several occasions from the parish office, and sending the money to his family in the Philippines.

Most Rev. Robert McManus of Worcester Diocese in Massachusetts removed Dongor from active service and prohibited the latter from wearing his clerical attire or present himself as a priest. —(FREEMAN)