Aguirre orders BI to place priest in trafficking case on lookout bulletin

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II on Wednesday ordered Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel to monitor and report to authorities any attempt by Monsignor Arnel Lagarejos to leave the country.

Lagarejos is the priest facing charges for allegedly soliciting sex with a 13-year-old in Marikina City in July.

Aguirre issued an immigration lookout bulletin order two days after the family of the victim filed a complaint for two counts of qualified human trafficking against the priest before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The new charges are on top of the human trafficking case against Lagarejos pending before the Marikina City Regional Trial Court. Lagarejos was able to post bail on this case last August 1.

Lagarejos was arrested at a motel in Marikina City on July 28 while in the company of the victim, who was allegedly pimped by a 16-year-old friend.

The alleged pimp has also arrested by the police.

The entrapment operation was set by the Marikina City Police's Women and Children Protection Desk based on a complaint by the girl's mother.

Lagarejos has already been removed by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines from his post at St. John the Baptist Parish in Taytay, Rizal and as president of the Cainta Catholic College. —NB, GMA News