Phony priest arrested in Midsayap for shabu possession

MIDSAYAP, North
Cotabato – A man claiming to be a Catholic priest” was arrested by
police for possession of illegal drugs and who allegedly duped several persons
on Sunday, police said today.

Supt. Tom Tuzon,
Midsayap town police chief, identified the phony priest as John Ferolin who goes
around and identify himself as Fr. John.”

He is in our illegal
drug personality watch list,” Tuzon said, adding the man has been under
surveillance for some time.

After his where about
was confirmed, Tuzon said he organized an arresting team to effect the arrest.

On Sunday, at about 6
a.m., police operatives raided the house of Fr. John” in Barangay Katinggawan,
also in Midsayap.

He did not resist
arrest but he insisted he was a holy man.”

He insisted he was a
priest and that he should not be arrested,” Tuzon said of Fr. John.”

Fr. John” claimed he
is a priest of the Salesians of Don Bosco congregation, a Roman Catholic
religious institute based in Manila but could not present any evidence or
document to support his claim.

Later Fr. John”
admitted that he was on a year-long exposure” to the outside world after his
seminary days before he will be ordained and that he was never been a priest.

Tuzon said the police
is coordinating with the Salesians of Don Bosco congregation to verify Fr.
John's claim. But he has to face
charges for possession of illegal drugs,” he said.

Police found three
sachets of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally knowno as shabu”
with a market value of P7,500 from the suspect.

Quoting witnesses,
Tuzon said, Fr. John” presided over several holy masses in remove villages and
collected mass offerings from the unsuspecting churchgoers.

Charges for violation
of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 have been
filed against Fr. John.”