Ex-monk pursuing charges of forgery

CEBU, Philippines - Former monk Venancio Cabillon will pursue the filing of forgery charges against the monks who filed estafa charges against him for allegedly presenting fake documents in court in their accusations.

Cabillon said that he would be filing charges as soon as they have the evidence as he wanted to clear his name of the estafa charges.

Cabillon said Frater Martin Mary, Frater Francis Mary and Frater Bernard would be the respondents in the case.

After filing his counter-affidavit on two of the other estafa charges filed against him, Cabillion said he would ask the court to order the shrine to release all original documents for forensic examination.

He argued that he had not signed anything and that it is possible that some documents were forged.

Frater Martin Mary, also known as Abelio Mangila, alleged that Cabillon misappropriated more than P500,000 worth of cash and assorted donations to the Monastery of Our Lady in Hilongos, Leyte.

Cabillon is also facing another estafa charge for allegedly asking money and cell phone load from an eatery owner named Pastora Superable.

Superable claimed Cabillon asked for P500 cash to cover his transportation expenses to another monastery. Three days after the cash was given, Cabillon allegedly sent Superable a text message asking for P60 cell phone load. — Jasmin U. Labaco/LPM    (FREEMAN NEWS)