SC: Pastor guilty of molesting ministry member

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) finding an elder of a Christian group guilty of acts of lasciviousness against a member of his congregation.

In a 14-page decision promulgated on Dec. 6, 2021 but released only on Thursday, the SC said the allegations against Bless Our Lord to Shine Ministry elder, pastor Titus Barona, “were properly proven during trial.”

The SC ruling was penned by Associate Justice Rosmari Carandang. Associate Justices Marvic Leonen, Rodil Zalameda, Ricardo Rosario and Jose Midas Marquez concurred with the decision.

“After a judicious review of the records, the Court finds that all the elements of the crime of acts of lasciviousness have been sufficiently established… the actuations of Barona, when taken together, reveal his sexual desire to molest and exploit the victim,” the SC said.

Barona was charged with acts of lasciviousness before the Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) by the member, whom he assigned to translate his teachings from English to Filipino, compose letters and communiqués to the Philippine National Police for the ministry’s activities and other administrative duties.

The woman said Barona started with sending inappropriate text messages in 2004 that escalated to touching her and attempting to kiss her in February 2011.

The woman said she remained quiet for fear of going against Barona, whom she described as the “anointed one of God.” When she learned that other women also received the same treatment from him, she decided to “speak up and take action.”

According to affidavits of other congregation members who testified against Barona, the pastor reportedly admitted that he “cannot stop himself from doing those acts because of his exhaustion from work.”

Barona denied the allegations, saying the member was one he reprimanded for being a mistress.

The MeTC convicted Barona on June 24, 2015, sentencing him to seven months in prison and ordering him to pay P20,000 in moral damages.

The MeTC denied Barona’s motion for reconsideration on Aug. 26, 2015, prompting him to file an appeal with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, which also affirmed the MeTC’s decision on May 20, 2016. The CA also affirmed the RTC’s ruling.

The SC, however, increased Barona’s prison term to a maximum of four years and two months and ordered him to pay the member P20,000 in moral damages and P20,000 civil indemnity.