Wanted ex-Pinoy priest in US nabbed in Laguna

A former Filipino priest in the United States wanted for allegedly molesting two minors in South Dakota has been nabbed in Laguna, GMA News' John Consulta reported on 24 Oras on Tuesday.

Fernando Laude Sayasaya was arrested in Calamba 15 years after he was ordered arrested by a US court.

"Alam niya na papalabas na 'yung warrant of arrest [so] nagpaalam siya dun sa Amerika. Nagpaalam siya dun na magbabakasyon siya sa Pilipinas," said Superintendent Vic Cabatingan, chief of the Laguna Provincial Intelligence Branch.

Sayasaya left the US in 1998, the report said. The warrant for his arrest was released four years later, or in 2002.

Manila Regional Trial Court released a counterpart warrant on July 30, 2010 after the US Court of Extradition requested his arrest for the child abuse charges.

Laguna police reported that Sayasaya repeatedly changed his name and residence for the past 15 years until they received a tip regarding his location.

"Kaya nga nagkaroon tayo ng tracking dito. Nagkaroon tayo ng validation  sa address na binigay sa warrant of arrest, wala siya dun. So trinack-down natin kasi may mga kakilala siya, hanggang ma-landing natin sa Barangay Looc, Calamba City," Cabatingan said.

Sayasaya was brought to Manila for extradition to the US, where he is facing two counts of gross sexual imposition filed by brothers Hugo Zamarron and Pablo Zamarron. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News