NBI subpoenas DepEd, Oasis, Abellana execs

The National Bureau of Investigation has subpoenaed officials from the Department of Education, Oasis of Love and Abellana National School to appear before them on Friday and bring pertinent documents relative to the accusations of at least 19 students that they were harassed by a priest during confession.

Special investigator Jedidah Hife subpoenaed DepEd city schools division superintendent Leonilo Oliva, Oasis of Love president Nonito Limchua and Abellana National School principal Ernesto Jacel.

Hife asked Oliva and Jacel to bring a copy of their investigation report on the incident while Limchua was also asked to bring the list of the priests that they invited to hear confessions for the Life in the Spirit Seminar that they organized last November 14.

Hife said the bureau will also ask the three officials to identify the suspect based on NBI photos. The priest was already identified by one of the victims and another seminar participant during a simulated lineup. The investigator, however, said the bureau still has to get the name of the priest officially from the organizers before they could issue subpoena to him.

The NBI took over the investigation of the case after the Department of Social Welfare and Development failed to compel church officials to cooperate with their investigation.

Although the NBI refused to identify the priest yet, records at the bureau show that the picture identified by one of the victims and her classmate was that of Father Benedicto Sosobrado Ejares.

The 19 students of the Abellana National School alleged that Ejares harassed them during a Life in the Spirit Seminar last November 14.

Since then, the identity of the priest has been kept secret by the organizers and church officials. DSWD officials requested the archdiocese to reveal the identity of the priest but Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal refused to heed the request prompting them to turn over the investigation to the NBI. - Fred Languido/QSB