GONZAGA |
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Msgr.
Margarito Gonzaga, who holds the distinction as the
first Catholic priest elected as town mayor, expressed
concern that newly-elected Pampanga governor Fr. Ed
Panlilio may have to "totally free himself of his
priestly obligations" in order to "wholly
serve the people" who elected him as governor.
Gonzaga,
who served as municipal mayor of Albur for nine years
in 1972 to 1980 and later as provincial board member
for six years in 1981 to 1986, pointed out that a constitutional
question may arise if Panlilio continues to be assigned
Church duties in Pampanga.
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The
cleric explained that the Catholic Church will have to "suspend"
Panlilio in view of his huge responsibilities as governor-elect
and the absolute rule forbidding priests to assume public
offices, which entail participation in the exercise of civil
power (the exercise of legislative, administrative and judicial
authority), as mandated in the Catholic Church's Code of Canon
Law.
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Gonzaga's
election as Albur mayor in 1971 raised legal and constitutional
questions. In fact, a petition was filed against him
that was elevated at the Supreme Court which sought
for his disqualification from holding the post due to
a 1917 Administrative Code provision which bars ecclesiastics
from being elected or appointed as municipal chief executive.
The
high tribunal, however, was not able to rule on the
case until 1980 when Gonzaga have already been serving
for nine years. The court was not able to muster at
least eight votes to overturn the constitutionality
of the Administrative Code provision, hence, rendering
illegitimacy over Gonzaga's tenure as town mayor.
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While
Gonzaga clarified that the prohibition of ecclesiastics to
hold official executive functions is only applicable at the
municipal level, a priest elected as provincial governor,
as in the case of Fr. Panlilio, can raise controversies on
Church - State relations especially if his Church functions
is within the province where he is also elected.
In
1980, the Supreme Court ordered Gonzaga to vacate the mayoralty
post of Albur and declared his term illegal. He was, in fact,
asked to repay the salary he received (as mayor) from 1972
to 1980.
After
serving as town mayor until 1980, Gonzaga ran and won as provincial
board member in the 1981 elections. He served until 1986 when
appointments of officers-in-charge were made by then Pres.
Corazon Aquino.
He
served both elective posts concurrently as parish priest in
the town of Jagna and later in Tagbilaran City.
Gonzaga
admitted it was difficult to keep the two tasks of serving
his parish in the town where he was assigned while also serving
as chief executive in Albur.
When
he served as provincial board member (elected provincewide
then), he had even bigger obligations as he also took the
task of being parish priest of the Our Lady of Lourdes Church
(K of C) and later as first parish priest of Birhen sa Barangay
Church (Cogon).
Gonzaga
ran for vice governor in the 1989 elections but lost.
Gonzaga
attributed the loss to a pastoral order issued by then Tagbilaran
Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak urging parishioners not to support
his candidacy as this was prohibited by the Church.
Gonzaga,
considered as one of the oldest and longest-serving priest
in the province, celebrated his 55th year in the priesthood
last March.
Meanwhile,
Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran also
said that the people needs an alternative to run against traditional
politicians, but stressed, it should not be the priests.
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Bishop
Medroso, a member of the Commission on Canon Law of
the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
(CBCP), issued the statement in reaction to the election
of Fr. Panlilio, besting two strong and well-entrenched
political figures of said province.
Bishop
Medroso said that the victory of Panlilio gives the
signal that "people are hungry for alternative
candidates whose charisma beats even the most popular
and powerful politician."
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MEDROSO
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Bishop
Medroso said that the church also considers Panlilio's victory
as a loss to the church knowing that the priest was a good
asset in the vineyard of the Lord considering his 20 years
of value formation to become a priest. Thus "we consider
it a loss," the bishop stressed.
But,
sharing Fr. Panlilio to the service of humanity could also
be "an exception since it seems he came in a situation
of emergency when people in Pampanga needs a strong alternative
candidate."
Medroso
said that at the end of the day "priests should not become
the solutions to the political concerns in the country."
Medroso
said that Panlilio's victory in Pampanga is a challenge to
lay people who are gifted with leadership traits to come out
and be counted to fight against traditional politicians.
He
said this is an eye opener that if people will perceive one
to be dedicated and sincere in his commitment to serve, then
he can win in an election.
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