Detained American priest accused of molesting boys served 5 more arrest warrants

MANILA, Philippines — Five more arrest warrants were served by Philippine authorities Tuesday against an American Catholic priest accused of molesting up to 50 altar boys.

According to media reports, the warrants were served to Father Kenneth Bernard Pius Hendricks at his cell in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where he was being detained.

The 77-year-old priest was arrested in Biliran, Leyte before he was transferred to the detention facility of the Bureau of Immigration in Bicutan, Taguig City last December.

READ: Priest accused of molesting altar boys moved to BI jail

National Capital Region Police Office Director Guillermo Eleazar said the warrants served at around 11 a.m. were issued by the Biliran Regional Trial Court over acts of lasciviousness and child abuse charges.

Hendricks has been living in the Philippines for the past 37 years. The United States Embassy in Manila has been processing the revocation of his passport to facilitate his deportation to the United States, where he faces charges of illicit sex with a minor in a foreign country. 

If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.