Social welfare officer: Agusan Norte rape victim goes 'missing'

BUTUAN CITY — The 17 year-old "rape victim" and her mother were nowhere to be found, the Municipal Social Welfare Officer of Tubay town in Agusan del Norte said on Saturday. Municipal Social Welfare officer Isabelita Islabon told GMA News Online “As of now, I would say that the alleged rape victim and her mother are nowhere to be found." On June 24 the girl, together with her her mother, reported to the police that the town's parish priest raped her in February and March this year. “We met with the mother and the girl on June 24. They were accompanied by women's group Gabriela-Caraga Region Secretary General Atel Hijos. We even discussed plans about what to do with their allegations Fr. Raul Cabonce, our parish priest. But after that meeting, I could no longer contact them," Islabon said. Islabon said she went to the Missionary Sisters of Mary (MSM) convent at Kilometer 4, Barangay Ba-an, Butuan City, where the mother and daughter were temporarily housed, but the convent head Sister Rachel Sarigumba said the two left the convent after seeking permission to go home to Las Nieves town. Attempts by GMA News Online to contact the MSM spokesperson Sister Annie Ocer were also unsuccessful as of posting time. Also, Islabon claimed that before going to the convent, Gabriela's Hijos informed her that the two were no long in the group's custody. “I tried several times but failed to contact Hijos because her mobile phone was unattended," Islabon said. Moreover, she said attempts to contact Sister Sarigumba were also unsuccessful, and no one at the MSM convent could respond to her queries. The victim was scheduled to undergo a medical examination last June 27, but Islabon said the girl did not show up. The victim alleged Fr. Cabonce of raping her twice, on February 3 and March 14. [See: Girl accuses Catholic priest of rape] According to the victim, the assaults happened at the Tubay parish convent where she was working for free high school education. Fr. Cabonce has denied the allegations. — Ben Serrano, with Carmela Lapeña/LBG, GMA News