A Catholic priest on Monday reminded parents and authorities of their responsibility to protect children’s rights.

This comes in the wake of complaints filed against Mayor Jose “Joker” Rodriguez of San Marcelino in Zambales province, north of Manila, who allegedly raped a 12-year-old girl.

Cases were also filed against a certain Jodie who allegedly acted as the pimp for the girl identified only by the pseudonym "Charisse."

“Officials should not forget that should to protect people’s rights and welfare especially that of children,” said Father Roque Villanueva, administrator of San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Olongapo City.

Charisse’s mother, a single parent, said she is determined to seek justice for her daughter. “The mayor should be punished for what he did,” she said.

She recounted that on Thursday last week she read a “strange” text message from Jodie on her child’s cellphone. Not knowing that the phone was with the mother, Jodie allegedly informed her that Mayor Rodriguez will be Charisse’s customer.

Jodie then brought Charisse to Rodriguez’s rest house in where the sexual abuse allegedly occurred. Charisse’s mother coordinated with Olongapo City’s social workers who immediately set up a rescue and entrapment operation with the local police.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez refused to comment. But local officials said the mayor will face media and his constituents at the right time.

“We will issue an official statement. The mayor is discussing the matter with his lawyer,” explained Gilbert Villena, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator of San Marcelino.

Social workers, however, were puzzled why the police failed to arrest the mayor or even question him during the operation at his rest house.

The Philippine National Police vowed to conduct a thorough investigation on the case and revealed that the San Marcelino chief of police was relieved from his post due to the incident.

Up to 100,000 children in the Philippines are involved in prostitution according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), with most cases occurring in tourist areas such as Zambales province.

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