A WATCHGROUP tracking clerical abuse cases worldwide has identified several priests linked to Cebu as among those accused of sexual abuse, raising concerns about accountability in the Catholic Church in the Philippines.

Bishop Accountability, an organization that compiles reports of clergy abuse, said it had found at least 10 priests with connections to Cebu among the 82 clerics named in its Philippine database of alleged perpetrators.

The cases stem from accusations ranging from rape to child abuse and inappropriate conduct with minors, with some clergy remaining in ministry.

The priests identified include Rev. Jose “Joey” Belcina, Rev. Benedicto “Ben” Ejares, the late Msgr. Cristobal Garcia, Rev. Leonardo Mateo, Rev. Joseph Skelton, Rev. Apolinario “Jing” Mejorada, Rev. Mercorio Montenegro, Rev. Prudencio Operiano, and Rev. Serlito Villar.

Another unnamed priest was linked to a 2010 incident involving Fr. Ejares and female students during confession.

According to the watchdog group, many of these cases have been publicly reported but have not led to convictions or permanent removals from the ministry. In some cases, such as that of Rev. Belcina, the priest was reassigned despite facing allegations.

Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of Bishop Accountability, expressed this during a news conference in Manila that their goal is to raise awareness, adding that secrecy benefits the perpetrators and equals complicity.

One of the most high-profile names on the list, the late Msgr. Garcia, was a former Dominican priest who served in Los Angeles before facing allegations of sexual abuse involving minors.

In 2012, the Archdiocese of Cebu confirmed that the Vatican was investigating Garcia over allegations that had emerged while he was still in the U.S. Church officials maintained that Garcia had undergone “spiritual renewal.”

Another Cebu priest, Rev. Ejares, gained notoriety for allegedly molesting female students during confession in 2006. A criminal case was filed but later dismissed, with church officials saying he had been placed in prayer and reflection.

Also, Fr. Mejorada, an Augustinian priest and former rector of the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño de Cebu, faced allegations of sexual abuse starting around 1999. Several former altar boys from the basilica filed charges against him for sexual abuse.

Rev. Skelton, a priest linked to both Cebu and Bohol, had also been named in the global database for clergy abuse.

Calls for greater accountability have been echoed by both advocates and victims’ groups. Despite Pope Francis’ directive requiring dioceses to establish channels for reporting abuse, critics argue that enforcement remains weak, allowing alleged perpetrators to continue serving in the Church.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has established the Office for the Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable Adults, saying each diocese is responsible for implementing safeguards.

However, critics insist that true justice will only come from external oversight and legal action, rather than relying on the Church to police itself.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Child Abuse
• #Minors
• #Archdiocese of Cebu
• #Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines