Bacani wants rest, privacy

Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani Jr., who was accused by his secretary of sexual harassment, wants "rest and privacy" after returning to the country Wednesday night.

Bacani’s return ended 73 days of "vacation" in the United States, which started when news of his sexual
harassment case broke.

His eldest brother, lawyer Pastor Bacani, said yesterday their family plans to gather this week in a simple celebration of his return amid reports that the bishop has been acquitted by the Vatican.

The eldest of the Bacani siblings, however, said he has no idea whether his brother was indeed exonerated of the charge filed by his secretary.

"I do not know. We have not talked about it … All he wants is his privacy and rest," Pastor said when reached by The STAR over the phone.

Bacani arrived at 10:25 Wednesday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 27 from San Francisco, California.

Pastor said his brother arrived by himself, in a "normal" mood.

The bishop is supposed to have stayed with relatives in Kansas but his brother said there is no direct flight from Kansas to the Philippines.

Pastor could not say if his brother will stay in his quarters at the Good Shepherd Cathedral in Lagro, Quezon City but said the bishop is currently staying with relatives.

Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco, who earlier appointed San Fernando, La Union Bishop Antonio Tobias as apostolic administrator of the Novaliches diocese in Bacani’s absence, gave specific instructions not to have Bacani’s room disturbed.

At yesterday’s installation of the first bishop of Pasig Francisco San Diego, Franco refused to comment on Bacani’s return. Tobias, however, confirmed that Bacani’s room remains intact.

"Definitely he can stay there (Novaliches) if he wants. His house is still there. I never occupied the house," he said.

Tobias added that he has yet to talk to Bacani, but that as apostolic administration he will remain in charge of the diocese’s day-to-day activities until the Vatican orders him to relinquish the function.

Bacani remains the titular head of the Novaliches diocese despite his absence and is not prevented from performing priestly duties.

Monsignor Romulo Rañada, Bacani’s spokesman, said he has not talked with the bishop but noted that Bacani is expected at El Shaddai’s anniversary celebration on Sunday.

Bacani is an adviser of the influential Catholic group, which expressed its full support for him when the issue broke.

Pastor said he does not know yet what his younger brother’s plans are, or whether he will stay for good.

He discounted the possibility that the bishop will meet with journalists to discuss the outcome of his case, nor will his younger brother be conspicuous in the installation of the first bishop of Caloocan Deogracias Iñiguez.

Bacani spent a good part of his career in Caloocan City while serving as Manila auxiliary bishop. The Vatican later subdivided the archdiocese of Manila to create the dioceses of Parañaque and Caloocan.

The archdiocese was further subdivided into the dioceses of Cubao, Pasig and Caloocan.

Earlier, Marbel, South Cotabato Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said Bacani was acquitted as early as July and that he would be back soon to attend Iñiguez’s installation as Caloocan bishop.

Gutierrez cited "two reliable sources" to back up his claim.

The Catholic Church is also expected to have a big celebration on Aug. 31 to mark Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin’s 75th birth anniversary, the compulsory retirement age mandated by the Church.

Bacani’s alleged sexual harassment of his secretary is supposed to have occurred sometime in March, with the Papal Nuncio investigating the case as early as April.