Complaints filed vs. Taytay priest caught with 13-year-old

Qualified trafficking raps were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday against the priest arrested by policemen for allegedly soliciting sex with a 13-year-old girl in Marikina City on July 28.

Represented by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), the family of "Anna" filed a complaint for violation of Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 against Monsignor Arnel Lagarejos and four other individuals regarding two previous instances of sexual abuse.

Lagarejos is currently out on bail in connection with the case pending before the Marikina Regional Trial Court (RTC) in relation to the July incident.

After a meeting with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, PAO chief Persida Acosta said they would ask the DOJ to place Anna and her mother under the coverage of the Witness Protection Program.

Aguirre assured Anna and her family that they would be given provisional coverage under the WPP.

Lagarejos was arrested while in the company of the victim, who was allegedly pimped by a 16-year-old friend.

The alleged pimp was 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