Philippines accuses U.S. priest of abuse

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine immigration authorities say they have arrested an American Roman Catholic priest accused of sexually assaulting altar boys in a remote central town in a case one official described as “shocking and appalling.”

Immigration bureau spokesman Dana Sandoval said Thursday that the Rev. Kenneth Bernard Hendricks, who has been indicted in Ohio on accusations of illicit sexual conduct in the Philippines, was arrested in a church in Naval town on the island province of Biliran.

Each count is punishable with up to 30 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman said Thursday morning at a news conference in Cincinnati.

An Ohio court had issued a warrant for the arrest of Hendricks, 77, who has been living in the Philippines for 37 years, Sandoval said, adding that the U.S. criminal case stemmed from complaints from Filipino children that they were victimized in the Philippines.

The suspect is accused of abusing mostly altar boys in Naval, in 50 counts of molestation in his residence in a case that’s “both shocking and appalling,” Sandoval said.

Glassman said 10 victims have come forward with their statements.

Glassman said that he wants to prosecute the case in Ohio, but his office is still coordinating with Philippine officials to determine which jurisdiction will proceed first.