Layman indicted for sexual abuse

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – A lay minister of a Catholic Church was charged before the provincial prosecutor’s office here for allegedly molesting a 10-year-old girl Thursday afternoon in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.

Charged for acts of lasciviousness in relation to Violence Against Women and Children Act was Efren Meña, 55, of Barangay San Fernando Sur, Cabiao.

Meña is a lay minister of the Saint John Nepomucene Parish Church in Cabiao, according to Chief Inspector Eric de Venancio, town police chief.      

In her complaint, the girl’s mother said the crime happened inside the house of a neighbor at about 1 p.m. Thursday.

The victim told case investigator Senior Police Officer 1 Orlando Francisco that Meña kissed her in the lips and touched her breast.

The girl immediately told the incident to her mother who accompanied her to the police and the office of municipal social welfare and development.

Francisco said Meña allegedly owned up to the crime.

A bail of P200,000 was recommended for the suspect’s provisional liberty.