Rowegie Abanto

Article (news)

Pampanga

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — An American pastor who founded a child care facility in Pampanga faces cases for alleged physical, verbal, and psychological abuse against minors under his watch, the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed Sunday.</p><p>In a statement, the DSWD assured the public that Pastor Jeremy Keith Ferguson, 48, &quot;will have his day in court&quot; for the alleged abuses, saying also that the Bureau of Immigration has placed him on its watchlist to make sure he will attend court hearings.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/14/160-children-allegedly-abused-in-pampanga-now-safe-with-dswd-1915">160 children allegedly abused in Pampanga now safe with DSWD</a></div><p>The DSWD said the abuse allegations surfaced after the agency&#x27;s Standards Bureau team conducted a spot monitoring of the facility on August 12. </p><p>&quot;During the inspection, several children disclosed having experienced physical, verbal, and psychological abuse allegedly committed by Ferguson and some house parents,&quot; the agency said.</p><p>The following day, August 13, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian issued a cease-and-desist order against Pastor Ferguson, founder and director of the New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga, Inc. </p><p>That same day, the children were rescued and Ferguson was arrested, DSWD said.</p><p>Ferguson has been charged with two counts of violation of Section 10 (a) of Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act, DSWD said, noting that each count carries a recommended bail of P80,000.</p><p>While the charges are bailable, Ferguson cannot be released due to his immigration case, said Director Megan Manahan of the DSWD’s Standards Bureau.</p><p>The rescued children are now in the protective custody of the DSWD and are being given psychosocial support and other appropriate interventions by social workers, the agency said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOLON: ESTABLISH TRUTH WITH CARE</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Rep. Bienvenido &quot;Benny&quot; Abante Jr. of Manila&#x27;s 6th District urged authorities not to pre-judge Ferguson.</p><p>&quot;The more serious the allegations, the greater the need to establish the truth with care and impartiality,&quot; said Abante, chair of the House Committee on Human Rights and also a pastor.</p><p>He said in a statement that the August 13 operation led to the &quot;forcible&quot; taking of the children &quot;despite their resistance.&quot;</p><p>&quot;That night, at around 10 p.m., DSWD personnel returned with a SWAT team to arrest Pastor Ferguson,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/8/15/dswd-probes-alleged-abuse-of-children-in-pampanga-facility-1305">DSWD &#x27;digging deeper&#x27; into alleged abuse of children in Pampanga facility</a></div><p>Abante said the reports should be investigated, noting they &quot;highlight the need for a fair inquiry before any deportation proceedings.&quot;</p><p>He added: &quot;We must do what is necessary to protect our children, but we must do so consistent with the basic principles of human rights. Justice is not served when we pre-judge a man before the evidence has been fully weighed.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YKhsAy_lHbE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>An American pastor who founded a child care facility in Pampanga faces cases for alleged physical, verbal, and psychological abuse against minors under his watch, the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed Sunday.</p>

An American pastor who founded a child care facility in Pampanga faces cases for alleged physical, verbal, and psychological abuse against minors under his watch, the Department of Social Welfare and Development confirmed Sunday.

American pastor arrested for alleged abuse of children under his care in Pampanga

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American pastor arrested for alleged abuse of children under his care in Pampanga

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 17, 2025 11:36 AM PHT

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Benny Abante

pastor

Pampanga

child abuse

Pastor Jeremy Keith Ferguson

Jeremy Keith Ferguson

New Life Baptist Church of Mexico

Inc

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