Priest accused of raping 17-year-old girl

TUBAY, Agusan del Norte ,Philippines  – A Roman Catholic priest of this town has been accused of raping a 17-year-old girl, police records showed.

The alleged rape victim is a resident of Barangay Maningalao, Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte. She claimed she is staying at the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM) convent in Butuan City.

The victim alleged that St. Anne parish priest Raul Cabonce of Tubay, Agusan del Norte raped her on three occasions.

The first was last Feb. 27, at about 9 p.m., the second on March 5, and the third on March 14.

Police records said the incidents allegedly took place inside the parish priest’s room at St. Anne Parish Convent in Poblacion, Tubay, Agusan del Norte.

The priest has yet to respond to the complaint. Efforts by this writer to get the priest’s side also proved futile.

St. Anne parish secretary Corazon Vertido said Cabonce remains as their parish priest despite the allegations against him.