Filipino Catholic Priest Arrested for Attempted Sexual Abuse of 13-Year Old Girl in Marikina

A Catholic priest was arrested this Friday night, July 28 in Marikina City for attempted sexual abuse of a 13-year old girl. The suspect priest was arrested via joint efforts of Marikina police and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), after the victim’s mother reported to the Marikina City police’s women and child protection department.



According to Eastern Police District Director Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, Rev. Msgr. Arnel F. Lagarejos, parish priest of St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal, was arrested at around 6:30 pm at Blue Wave Mall on Sumulong Highway, in Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City, along with a 16-year-old gay boy who served as the pimp in the transaction.

Fr. Lagarejos, 55, was driving his gray Ford explorer with plate number TGO 350, and was on their way to a motel in Marikina, when he was arrested, police said. The initial target of the arresting officers is the pimp. Nevertheless, they were shocked when they learned that the supposed customer is a Catholic priest, who allegedly attempted to pull out his gun.

Must Read: * CBCP Asks 13-Year Old Girl Victim's Mother to Forgive Priest Who Was Arrested for Attempted Sexual Abuse

Recovered from the suspect priest as piece of evidence in his planned sexual abuse of a minor is an iPhone 5s that contains exchange of messages cellphone between him and pimp, discussing the details of the transaction. It was also learned that Fr. Lagarejos had allegedly booked the 13-year old girl, whose identify was not revealed for her protection.

Fr. Lagarejos, who is also known for being strongly against Reproductive Health law, did not talk the media, but reportedly denied the accusations, saying that it was only a set-up. The victim' mother was not also interviewed, but she allegedly told the cops that the arrested priest offered her P500,000 in exchange of not filing a case against him.



Based on Fr. Arnel Lagarejos' LinkedIn account, he lives in Antipolo, and was once the president of Cainta Catholic College and the parish priest of the Our Lady of Abandoned Parish from Feb 2000 to April 2006. The suspect's account also revealed that he holds a Doctorate degree in Moral Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Contributed by Salvi Dalida