An American Roman Catholic priest who allegedly molested at least 50 boys was arrested again Tuesday in Taguig City, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported.
Operatives from the NCRPO served five arrest warrants against Father Kenneth Pius Hendricks who was earlier apprehended by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for separate cases.
The NCRPO-Regional Special Operations Unit (RSOU) was joined by agents of BI Fugitive Search Unit and US Department of Homeland Security in arresting the priest.
According to NCRPO Director Guillermo Eleazar, Hendricks was initially arrested by immigration agents on December 5, 2018 after a warrant of arrest was issued against him by Stephanie Bowman, Cincinnati, Ohio district’s US magistrate judge.
The arrest warrant was based on charges filed against Hendricks for “engaging in illicit sex with a minor in a foreign country,” a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
NCRPO operatives then served the fresh arrest warrants around 11 a.m. at BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan, Taguig City where Hendricks has been detained.
The arrest warrants served by the NCRPO were for two cases of acts of lasciviousness in relation to violation of Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law issued by Constantino Esber, acting presiding judge of Eight Judicial Region Regional Trial Court Branch 16 in Naval, Biliran; and three criminal cases for violation of Section 5(a) of RA 7610.
According to police, Hendricks arrived in the country from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in 1968.
He was ordained as a priest in the Franciscan order and practiced his vocation at St. Isidore the Worker Chapel at Talustosan Village, Biliran province.
Over the course of his vocation, police said the Franciscan priest has molested at least 50 individuals including seven-year-old altar boys who were serving in Biliran chapel.
Hendricks refused to comment on the allegations against him when asked by reporters.
Eleazar said there may be other victims of Hendricks who refuse to come out and file cases.
He bared that even the ones who filed cases against Hendricks allegedly received threats on their life from the priest.
Hendricks was brought to NCRPO headquarters where he will be temporarily detained prior to the hearing of his cases.
Meanwhile, the five arrest warrants will be returned to the court of origin. (Martin A. Sadongdong)
