A 57-year-old pastor was arrested after he was accused of repeatedly raping a 12-year-old girl he took care in Villasis, Pangasinan.
According to Russel Simorio in the RGMA News “Balitang Amianan” on Thursday, the suspect was identified as Ruben Pagaduan.
Police investigation revealed that the suspect took care and sent the victim to school.
The medico-legal revealed that the victim was raped.
“Nakakalungkot, itong taong ito ay malapit din sa atin pero siyempre, pantay-pantay tayo,” said Police Major Fernando Fernandez Jr., chief of the Villasis Police Station.
(It’s sad because he is also close to us, but we are all equal under the law.)
The victim was unable to make any further statements as they returned home to Kalinga. But according to the police, the family is determined to file a case against the pastor.
“Inaareglo ang mga ito, pero hindi nga pumayag ‘yung magulang. May prinsipyo din kasi ang mga magulang kaya hindi rin sila pumayag kahit na mahirap sila,” said Fernandez.
(They want to make a settlement, but the parents did not agree. Because parents have principles too, they did not accept even when they are poor.)
The pastor, however, denied the rape charges against him.
“Gusto ko lang sabihin na mapag-usapan lang namin nang maganda, para maayos… Wala naman talaga, wala naman,” said Pagaduan.
(I just want to say we can talk about it thoroughly so that we could fix it. Nothing happened.)
Also read: Cagayan de Oro pastor arrested for continuing worship service with 500 people
OFW from Saudi Arabia returning home to Dagupan tested positive for COVID-19
An OFW from Saudi Arabia returned home to his hometown of Dagupan, Pangasinan tested positive for COVID-19.
The 32-year-old OFW first had a swab test in Manila, wherein she tested negative for the virus.
She returned to Dagupan after the 14-day quarantine period, but underwent a swab test again and tested positive for the respiratory disease.
“‘Yung mga OFW or returning balikbayans, pagdating dito iku-quarantine and then ire-repeat ‘yung swab test nila. ‘Yun ang ginawa sa aking OFW and then it turned out na positive siya roon sa COVID-19,” said Dr. Ophelia Rivera, Dagupan City Focal Person for COVID-19.
The OFW is asymptomatic or does not show symptoms of COVID-19, which is currently recovering at the Region 1 Medical Center.