“The Bolivian people, and Tarijeña in particular, is informed of the apprehension of priest Jorge Luis Machicado Villarrubia, known as ‘Coco’, for committing sexual abuse crime,” Eduardo del Castillo live-tweeted.

Authorities of Tarija Department reported that Villarubia was accused in 2021 for sexual harassment and abuse, following a student revealed the situation at the Tarija Confessional of the Bolivian Catholic University (UCB), where Villarubia taught Christianity lessons.

The UCB also opened an administrative process against Villarubia and the Tarija Archbishopric suspended him temporarily, but more than six months ago Villarubia returned to his duties and since then he has been officiating in the parish of the municipality of El Puente.

According to the Diocese of Tarija, the 2022 allegations were rejected and for this reason Villarubia -suspected of pedophilia- was reinstated in his position.

The Prosecutor´s Office, on the other hand, recently informed that it is investigating three other priests for alleged sexual crimes. Yet it did not provide details to avoid any possible leakage.

pll/npg/jpm