Former monk ready to face charges

CEBU, Philippines - The monk who filed libel charges against Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and three local church officials said he is ready to face the counter charges of estafa and acts of lasciviousness against him by two former fellow monks.

Venancio Cabillon, in an interview yesterday, denied all the accusations made by his former colleagues saying the latter are just doing it because of the libel case that he filed against the church officials who have caused the publication of an alleged defamatory notice to the public against him

Cabillon, who is known in his religious name as Frater Paul Mary, said the statements made by Abelio Mangila and Evert Lloyd Ugay who both accused him of misappropriating more than half a million pesos for his own and of committing lewd sexual acts are all untrue.

Mangila said Cabillon, a former member of the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration (MMEA), sought transfer to the community's branch in Leyte after being subjected to investigation by the MMFA council for violation of his vows of chastity and obedience.

Mangila also known as Frater Martin Mary, MMEA, superior of the Monastery of the Marian Shrine in Upper Lindogon, Sibonga, Cebu, said he requested Cabillon to deliver the MMEA's assistance to the Monastery of Our Lady in Hilongos, Leyte last January. Among the items entrusted by Mangila to Cabillon were a monstrance and a tabernacle worth P256,033.50, books worth P34,225 and 99 monobloc plastic chairs worth P24,750.

Mangila, who was among the respondents in the libel case filed by Cabillon, said another monk accompanied Cabillon to Pier 3 to bring the donated items placed inside a truck.

But after a few days, MMEA supporters told Mangila that Cabillon was asking for solicitations in Barangay Labangon, Cebu City prompting Mangila to call up the monastery in Leyte where Cabillon was supposed to stay with and confirmed that Cabillon never arrived and delivered the donations to them. “Mangila said the “undelivered” items caused “damage and prejudice” to the MMEA.

However, in yesterday’s interview, Cabillon denied the said accusations, saying that he does not know of the monstrance and the tabernacle that he was supposed to deliver in Leyte. He claimed he was only ordered to bring the monobloc chairs to the monastery in Hilongos.

“If these accusations were true, why had they not put it to blotter and sue me for doing so,” Cabillon said.

Meanwhile, Ugay, also known as Frater Basil Mary of MMEA, accused Cabillon of touching his private parts twice while they were inside the monastery. The first time was allegedly when he was still 17 years old after joining the community on Sept. 15, 2000.

He said Cabillon, who was then his novice master or formator, asked him about sexual matters. He allegedly nearly came to blows with Cabillon after the monk touched his private parts.

Ugay said the second incident occurred last Dec. 31 when he was sleeping inside the monastery. Cabillon denied Ugay’s accusations saying they are all lies and that he was actually the victim of the acts of lasciviousness and sexual acts of the latter, who even forced him to have sexual contact.

“How could I be doing what he had accused of me when I was locked up in novice from October 2008 to January 8, 2009 for failing to do my assigned duty as a monk?” Cabillon said.

Cabillon said it was only when he threatened he would commit suicide that he was released from the noviciate after being locked up as punishment.

Meanwhile, Dr. Edwin Fonghe said that all the counter charges against Cabillon are just dirty squid tactics of the other party.

“They have committed violations of the ten commandments: Thou shall not commit false pretenses against anyone,” Fonghe said, adding he will be sticking with Cabillon in his fight for the truth.— Jasmin R. Uy/WAB   (FREEMAN NEWS)