Pastor held for member’s rape

MANILA, Philippines — A pastor was arrested in Caloocan on Monday afternoon for allegedly repeatedly raping a female member of his sect since she was 15.

Pastor Michael Moreno was charged with rape and acts of lasciviousness before the Caloocan City regional trial court, which issued a warrant for his arrest.

The woman told police that Moreno had been abusing her since 2019 when she joined his sect.

According to Maj. Edward Samonte, who heads the Manila Police District’s special operations unit, the woman said she lost consciousness after Moreno gave her food or drink on several occasions.

The pastor denied drugging the woman, but said he and the woman had consensual sex. He claimed he then found out that the girl was a minor.

The suspect claimed the woman would go to him whenever she had a problem and that they had fallen in love.

Moreno said the woman was jealous of his former partner.