Fr Ramon Alaix Busquets and Fr Marcos Recolons de Arquer both previously served as provincials of the Society of Jesus in Bolivia and failed to take punitive action against another Spanish-born priest, Fr Antonio Pedrajas, known in Bolivia as Padre Pica.
Padre Pica’s crimes emerged in 2023, when the Spanish daily El País obtained his diary. In its pages, Pedrajas described the abuse he had perpetrated over decades of missionary work in Bolivia, particularly while serving at John XXIII School in Cochabamba.
He abused at least 85 minors, although the Network of Survivors estimates that the actual number of victims may be significantly higher. El País reported that Pedrajas discussed his misconduct with a number of colleagues and superiors, yet none of them reported the matter to the authorities.
Both Recolons and Alaix were placed under house arrest in March 2024, but the measure was later revoked. In September 2025, they were convicted of covering up abuse cases and sentenced to fines and one year in prison.
The Society of Jesus appealed the ruling before the Cochabamba Departmental Court of Justice. The court dismissed the appeals on 28 May and upheld the previous ruling. It also recommended expanding the investigation to include other potential abusers and superiors who may have concealed their crimes.
The Network of Abuse Survivors expressed surprise at the swift resolution of the case and argued that the Jesuits’ appeal had been filed for dilatory purposes, something the higher court likely recognised.
The group said the ruling was unprecedented and an affirmation of the convictions, marking the end of the climate of fear surrounding the Church.
Edwin Alvarado, a spokesperson for the Network of Abuse Survivors, said that the former provincials could still file a cassation appeal before the Supreme Court of Justice. Even after that stage, an extraordinary review procedure remains available.
“It is highly likely that the Society of Jesus will pursue those avenues, especially given what appears to be a strategy of delaying the proceedings. They are interested in preventing the judgment from becoming enforceable,” Alvarado told The Tablet.
“By sheer coincidence, octogenarians pass away – and ‘coincidence’ should be placed in quotation marks. The ruling may eventually be issued, but I am not sure whether, by that point, it will already have acquired the status of a final and binding judgment.”