CABANATUAN CITY – A lay minister of the Catholic
Church in Nueva Ecija was indicted before the provincial prosecutor’s office
here for allegedly sexually molesting a 10-year-old girl Thursday afternoon in
Cabiao, Nueva Ecija.
Charged
in an information for acts of lasciviousness in relation to Republic Act 7610,
or the Violence Against Women and Children Act was Efren Meña, 55, of Barangay
San Fernando Sur, Cabiao.
Chief
Inspector Eric de Venancio, Cabiao police chief, said Meña is a lay minister of
the Saint John Nepomucene Parish Church in Cabiao.
The
complaint was filed by the girl’s 35-year-old mother who said the sexual acts
were committed by Meña inside the house of a neighbor at around 1 pm Thursday.
SPO1
Orlando Francisco, chief investigator of the Cabiao police, said that the
victim saw Meña in the house and once inside, the latter suddenly kissed her in
the lips and touched her breast.
The frightened girl fled and reported the
incident to her mother who accompanied her to the police. The victim also
reported the incident to municipal social welfare and development officer Dyna
Dayao.
De
Venancio dispatched a police team which arrested Meña who was subsequently
detained at the police stockade.
Francisco
said on questioning, Meña admitted he kissed the girl but denied touching her
private parts.
A bail of
P200,000 was recommended for Meña’s provisional liberty. – Manny Galvez
