A lumad who was among the evacuees that a leftist group reportedly helped in the cities of Tagum and Davao in 2018 and 2019 has accused a pastor of sexual abuse.

“Lisa”, not her real name, 22, said from being a student at the Salugpungan Tatanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center in Talaingod, Davao del Norte, she was among the “bakwit” in Barangay Madaum, Tagum City to continue her studies.

“Katong katorse pa akong edad, nakauban ko sa ila. Ang tawag didto kay tack in ra ko. Unya isa ra ko ka bulan niadto pero wala pa ko kaagi og operation,” she said.

She alleged that one of the pastors who took care of them abused her sexually.

“Didto nahitabo ang atong pagpang-rape ni pastor sa akoa… Si Pastor Edgar Ugal…Naa man pud koy kwarto didto. Unya natingala ko dulom man jud sa sulod. Nikalit ra syag sulod didto sa akoa. Tapos gisampong akong baba,” she said.

When they transferred to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran in Davao City in 2019, the alleged abuse reportedly continued.

She said she was afraid to report and complain because of the alleged threats she received from the pastor.

“Niana man siya nga dili daw nako iistorya, dili daw nako siya isumbong kay kung musumbong daw ko, naa daw siyay buhaton nako maong wala ko nikuan, naghilom hilom lang pud ko ato,” she added.

She allegedly gained her freedom when they were rescued and told to go home.

The pastor, for his part, denied the allegation and said he and the complainant reportedly were in a relationship.

“Dili na tinuod nga naa’y sekswal, unsa ba’y tawag ana… 2018, siyempre, oo tinuod nga nagkauyab mi pero dili gyud ingon nga sekswal nga giingon niya kay siyempre ang amoa man gud ato, gihusay man mi sa mga Datu ato nga panahona. Gihusay mi ba kumbaga minyoon mi,” he said.

The pastor added that they allegedly broke up when they were in Haran because the woman allegedly had an affair with another man.

However, he admitted to having a sexual encounter with alias “Lisa,” but he claimed it was not forced.

“Giistoryahan nako siya nga kung unsa man tong relasyon nato sa una, di ba ingon ko human na na. So, wala na ta’y koneksyon para sa atoa. Kung naa ma’y something ano, for example, sekswal or pagtatalik, siyempre normal kay uyab man ta unya giminyo man ta sa mga lumad,” Ugal added.

The woman is ready to press charges against the pastor.