Cabillon answers "diversionary" estafa raps

CEBU, Philippines - Former Marian monk Venancio Cabillon has filed a counter-affidavit denying the accusations of estafa filed against him by a devotee of the Simala Shrine last Friday before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutors Office.

Cabillon went on to say he strongly believes that the charges are just meant to divert attention away from the libel charges that he filed against the monks of the Simala shrine.

Pastora Superable filed an estafa case against Cabillon, also known as Frater Paul Mary, before the prosecutors office after accusing the ex-monk of asking her money and mobile phone load credits despite being “disconnected from the monastery”.

Superable in her affidavit said that on January 9, 2009 Cabillon came to her store and asked for a donation of P500 saying that he was leaving the Marian Monks of the Eucharistic Adoration and would be going to another monastery.

She said she gave Cabillon the amount as she believed that it was still part of his mission and that the money would serve to help him in his transportation expenses.

Superable also accused Cabillon that he asked her for load credits for a period of two months which amounted to P1,200.

It was then later that she found out that Cabillon is no longer connected with the MMEA.

But Cabillon, in his counter-affidavit, denied the said charges saying that he did not ask for load credits from Superable.

Cabillon, however, admitted that he received P500 from Superable but he said that she gave it to him of her own will.

“She voluntarily handed to me a paper, which she crumpled and placed it inside my pocket and told me that it was her little way of helping me. I did not ask anything from her,” Cabillon said in his counter-affidavit.

“Granting without admitting that I indeed asked for the P500 donation and the cellphone load, why did the private complainant file a complaint only at this point of time. Why not earlier or the moment she knew I deceived her?” Cabillon stressed in his counter-affidavit. 

Last year Cabillon’s accusations of corruption and scandal at the shrine sent shockwaves throughout the religious community. — Jasmin U. Labaco/BRP (THE FREEMAN)