The possible case of child sexual abuse on behalf of a professor at a Catholic Church school in the Sabana Perdida far out suburb of Santo Domingo continues to be covered by the press. Professor Marcelino Guaba Morales was accused by eight parents of 10-12 year olds who attend the school. The parents said that their daughters told them that the professor fondled them and touched their private parts. The professors and the director of the school have defended Guaba saying that the girls had disciplinary problems that they seek to hide with the accusation. The professor was arrested after he was interviewed by personnel of the Ministry of Health. He is in jail at the Palacio de la Justicia. In a letter to the press, the 29-year old professor said that he was the victim of a political party that seeks to tarnish the reputation of the director of the Ema Balaguer school in order to satisfy "unpaid bills of the past presidential electoral campaign". He also said that some church members of competing denominations are taking advantage of the case to promote the idea that children are molested in Roman Catholic Church schools. Minister of Public Health Altagracia Guzmán Marcelino said that the authorities would investigate the truth of the case. Vice President Jaime David Fernández addressed the issue saying that all sectors of Dominican society should combat child abuse for its negative effects on Dominican society in general.
