Priest in sex abuse charges missing

By Leslie Ann Aquino 

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga -- The whereabouts of Father Daniel Baul, the priest accused of sexual abuse, is not known even to his bishop.

“His whereabouts is not known me,” Pampanga Archbishop Florentino Lavarias said in a statement released Wednesday.

Still, the prelate said he trusts the word previously given to him by Baul that he will face the matter in the proper fora.

“I trust his word previously given to me that he will not evade the case, and will, in due time, appear in court to support his claim of innocence,” said Lavarias.

He assured the civil authorities that the archdiocese will not keep Baul from the reach of the law.

“The Archdiocese wished to assure everyone concerned that it has all the intention to cooperate with the civil authorities and to respect the legal process of our judicial system,” said Lavarias.

He appealed to everyone to pray for Baul and his alleged victim.

“In our common desire to search for truth and justice, let our passion be tempered by prudence, decency and respect,” Lavarias said.

Earlier, a 17-year-old girl accused Baul of abuse that happened at a church-based center for women and children in Pampanga.

A formal complaint was made by the alleged victim to the authorities which resulted in the issuance of a warrant of arrest.