Priest denies rape raps; another victim cries foul
     17-year-old “Twinkle” (not her real name) has filed 5 counts of rape and 7 counts of acts of lasciviousness against Catholic Priest, Gabriel Madangeng Jr. who faces his second rape case. 
     The case has been lodged in Bontoc at the office of Provincial Prosecutor Moises Ayochok since April 2007.
     Madangeng has filed a petition for review at the Department of Justice and has yet to be resolved. “I want him to be imprisoned because if he will only be suspended he will do it again to anybody,” Twinkle said in her statement. 
     Madangeng however countered Twinkles allegations saying “I am a man of the cloth and I could not have committed the alleged acts which are in total violation of my vocation.” 
     Another 15 year-old “Crystal” (not her real name) filed separate charges against Madangeng alleging the same crimes. 
     Twinkle alleged the incidents of rape happened from August to December 2006, she was 15; while Crystal, who was 14 at the time, said her molestation started July of the same year. 
     The Philippine Mental Health Association in 2007 diagnosed Twinkle to have the age equivalent of a 9 year old and evaluated her to suffer from emotional disturbance and manic depression. “She exhibits covert anxiety, stemming from feelings of guilt and inadequacy,” psychologist Lindsey Cosme Ekid reported. 
     Twinkle attested Madangeng started molesting her August 3 until December 11, 2006 inside her room at the Sta Rita Parish Convent, in Bontoc. “Father Gabriel raped me many times,” she said. 
     According to Twinkle’s sworn statement Madangeng coordinated to give the victim a scholarship at the Saint Vincent High School in Bontoc. 
     Madangeng countered, “The charges hurled against me are without basis and false and are being made by the complainant to mitigate any reaction which her parents would have against her after she was discovered to have been dating a man in Bontoc.” 
     Twinkle served as a convent girl and narrated on her first week at the Sta Rita Parish suffered the first wave of abuse. “Father Gabby started coming inside my room during night time and sleep with me. For one week he had been caressing all my body especially my breast and vagina,” Twinkle said. 
     Twinkle said after the first week intercourse ensued many times with Madangeng sometimes leaving her money after sex. “He would leave cash amounting to P50.00 but sometimes he would leave P100-200 on top of the table as I don’t like to accept it.” 
     According to Twinkle she did not report the incident out of fear that her scholarship would be revoked and was ashamed to admit the abuse transpired. 
Twinkle started to fail her subjects in school and said “I cannot bear it any longer, I am being disturbed and I cannot concentrate whenever I think of Father Gabby coming into my room and doing everything against my will.” 
     As of press time the Madangeng as well as his legal counsel have declined to give a comment. (Maria Elena Catajan)