Fr. Jing cleared of sex rap: �money hunt�

PHILIPPINES
Sun Star

By Karlon N. Rama

CEBU — The complaint for acts of lasciviousness against former Basilica del Sto. Niño rector Fr. Apolinario “Jing” Mejorada was thrown out by the prosecutor’s office.

The Office of the Cebu City Prosecutor, in a resolution dated June 9, 2003, decided to dismiss the case, pointing out that the complainant was out for “extortion.”

Upon review, City Prosecutor Jose Pedrosa reversed the findings of Associate Prosecuting Attorney Rogelio del Prado, who originally recommended that the priest be charged with allegedly sexually abusing former altar boy Michal Gatchalian.

Pedrosa instead upheld the comments submitted by the office’s reviewing prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, who described the complainant as having gone “money hunting” in running after Mejorada.