Background: On CBCP and the priest accused of rape in Butuan

On Wednesday, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas released a statement regarding a GMA News Online story recently making the rounds on social media.

The story titled "CBCP seals its lips on Butuan priest's pending rape charges" was published on September 24, 2011 and covered the CBCP's pronouncement that it would not comment any further on the case involving Fr. Raul Cabonce, a priest in Butuan accused of rape and child abuse.

In his statement, Archbishop Villegas called the post "misleading if not deceptive," adding: "The Diocese will, as directed, see to the availability of the priest concerned for investigation by civil authorities."

We note that the story in question linked to an earlier article, dated August 28, 2011, reporting that charges have already been filed against the priest. The story also linked to another article, dated July 6, 2011, containing Fr. Cabonce's categorical denial about the charges.

We further note that the story has spread anew online, nearly five years after publication, through the efforts of individual social media users, and not by any of GMA News' social media accounts.

GMA News has informed Archbishop Villegas about the fact that the story in question was originally published in 2011.

Meanwhile, GMA News Online has reached out to Gabriela and the CBCP to get an update on the status of the Cabonce case.

We encourage netizens, especially those on social media, to go beyond just reading and sharing headlines, but to click on the articles to get the full context of stories that are being shared on their newsfeeds.