A United States-based watchdog has launched an online database listing over 80 Roman Catholic priests in the Philippines accused of sexually abusing minors, criticizing the country’s bishops for their silence, which it claims amounts to a cover-up.
The Philippines, the world’s third-largest Roman Catholic nation, has historically seen limited public discourse on clergy-related sexual abuse, especially in rural areas where priests are deeply revered.
BishopAccountability.org, the group behind the database, has identified 82 clergy members, including seven bishops, none of whom have been convicted in a Philippine court.
The database includes their names, photographs, and details of alleged offenses, some dating back more than two decades.
The organization has previously compiled similar records for the United States, Argentina, Chile, and Ireland.
Anne Barrett Doyle, co-director of BishopAccountability.org, said the prolonged silence of Filipino bishops has allowed such abuses to persist.
She urged Philippine prosecutors to investigate church officials who failed to report these cases.
“Philippine bishops feel entitled to remain silent, to withhold information about sexual violence against minors, and to defend accused priests,” Doyle stated in a press conference in Manila. “We aim to raise awareness—secrecy only benefits the perpetrators. Secrecy equals complicity.”
CHURCH RESPONSE AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), responded by highlighting the Church’s efforts to address abuse allegations.
He stated that an office had been established to protect minors and vulnerable adults, with cases reported to the Vatican.
“Our mandate from Rome is to take accountability seriously, especially regarding allegations against priests,” David said, without offering further details.
He emphasized that bishops failing to discipline erring priests could themselves face accountability under Vatican oversight.
David also acknowledged past instances where Filipino priests accused of abuse abroad returned home to evade prosecution.
In response, stricter policies now require returning clergy to secure proper endorsements from their overseas bishops before conducting religious duties in the Philippines.
The CBCP issued guidelines in 2003 on handling sexual misconduct cases within the clergy. However, concerns persist regarding their enforcement.
CEBU CLERGY UNDER SCRUTINY
At least ten of the priests listed in BishopAccountability.org’s database are from Cebu, with three—Fathers Jose “Joey” Belciña, Benedicto “Ben” Ejares, and Prudencio Operiano—still active in ministry.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma confirmed their continued service, asserting they had undergone due process.
Meanwhile, the Diocese of San Carlos confirmed that two priests facing allegations, Fathers Conrado Mantac and Aron Buenacosa, remain on administrative leave pending investigation.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza reaffirmed the diocese’s commitment to transparency and cooperation with civil authorities.
SURVIVORS’ STRUGGLES AND CALLS FOR JUSTICE
At the press conference, clergy abuse survivor Gemma Hickey highlighted the lifelong trauma victims endure. “It’s the survivors who serve a life sentence,” Hickey said. “Many abusive priests escape under the radar, retire, or move on to other careers. Meanwhile, survivors remain trapped in a prison of memory.”
Among the names in the database is the late Monsignor Cristobal Garcia, who faced allegations while serving in Los Angeles before being investigated by the Vatican in 2012.
Other priests listed include Leonardo Mateo, Joseph Skelton, Apolinario Mejorada, Mercorio Montenegro, and Serlito Villar.
Critics argue that while Pope Francis has mandated dioceses to establish reporting mechanisms for abuse cases, enforcement remains inconsistent, allowing some accused clergy to continue their ministerial roles.