CEBU CITY -- A 54-year-old man who claimed to be a faith healer was arrested after he was accused of raping two women in Asturias town, western Cebu.
Teodoro Rico Feriol was arrested by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI-7). The arrest took place in the suspect’s home past 2 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, in Sitio Udlom 2, Barangay San Isidro, Asturias.
Hon. Judilyn Menchavez, presiding judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 8, in Toledo City, issued the arrest warrant against the suspect known in his barangay as ‘Brod Doring.’
The NBI Region 7 said the suspect was accused of raping a minor and a 32-year-old woman. The alleged abuses took place between 2020 and 2021.
According to the complainants, the suspect introduced himself as “Dios Amahan" and made the villagers believe that he had the abilities to heal people who have illnesses.
The two complainants told the NBI-7 said they went to see the suspect as they were not feeling well and had lost their appetite.
The suspect then conducted a healing session. When his two ‘patients’ were healed from illnesses, they were asked to embark on a mission as part of their supposed spiritual obligation.
The mission, the complainants added, required that they stay in the suspect’s temple in Asturias.
The victims stayed in the temple for around four months. It was during their stay that the suspect allegedly molested the victims.
The victims also told the NBI-7 that there were other women who were victimized by the suspect but they decided not to report to authorities for fear of their lives.