Cebu priest faces new sex abuse rap

CEBU CITY — Another former altar boy, the fifth in a week, surfaced yesterday with a slightly different allegation of "attempted sexual abuse" against Fr. Apolinario Jingo Mejorada of the Augustinian Order while the priest was still the rector at the historic Basilica del Santo Niño.

He joined the four other young men, all of them in their early 20’s, to air his own complaint in an audience with Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at his residence.

Vidal reportedly assured all five of his help and that he would also discuss the allegation with the Augustinian prior provincial, Fr. Richard Pido, as soon as he arrives from a trip.

The fifth complainant, who asked to be known only as John, said Mejorada fondled his private parts as he accompanied him to Mactan where he was scheduled to celebrate Mass. The alleged attempt of sexual abuse did not succeed only because John called over their other companions.

John knows the other four boys who first exposed the alleged misconducts of Mejorada but did not join them when they first aired their complaint. It was only recently that he realized he was still a victim even if the alleged attempt did not succeed, so he decided to also come out in the open.

"The cardinal said he will mediate in our case. He said he will bring both parties, ourselves and the Augustinian priests, including Fr. Mejorada, together for a dialogue," said the spokesman of the first group of four, who asked to be known only as Dong.

All five young men claimed the incidents of sexual abuse occurred from 1998 to 1999 while they were still in their teens and that when altar boys at the basilica started to get restless over the incidents, the Augustinian Order allegedly stepped in to resolve the conflict.

Three of the four boys, the fourth having gone to the United States, were each reportedly paid P120,000 in exchange for their silence.

A brother of Fr. Mejorada, also a priest named Fr. Mario Mejorada, told The Freeman in earlier interview that the money came not from their family but from the Augustinian Order and some benefactors.

The deal fell through because two of the conditions the boys also demanded in exchange for their silence were allegedly not met.

They had demanded that Fr. Mejorada apologize and that he be sent away. But the boys claimed they saw Fr. Mejorada as recently as last May at the basilica. — Freeman News Service