Caceres archdiocese to investigate ‘killer priest’

MANILA, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Caceres in Camarines Sur will conduct an investigation into allegations that one of its priests killed a woman he allegedly had an affair with.

In a statement released yesterday, Archdiocese of Caceres chancellor Fr. Darius Romualdo admitted that they are “troubled” by media reports about a priest who has been alluded to as a “person of interest” in the killing. 

He gave assurance that they are taking steps to verify this report.

“We take the report very seriously. The Archdiocese supports and will fully cooperate with the thorough investigation of the case by the proper authority,” said Romualdo.

He added that “the Archdiocese, at the moment, is conducting its own investigation and will take appropriate action in accordance with the Code of Canon Law. At this time that we are searching for the truth, we ask for prayers and prudence.”

Romualdo also assured the victim’s family of the archdiocese’s prayers and support in their search for justice. 

It was reported that the body of Jeraldyn Bulalacao Rapinan – a 28-year-old resident of Barangay San Jose in Baao town, Camarines Sur – was found last June 15 in a grassy portion by the roadside of Maharlika Highway in Del Pilar, San Fernando.

She reportedly bore several stab wounds on the chest, aside from indications of strangling. Her hands and feet were bound with yellow nylon cord and her face was covered by a malong (a piece of Muslim clothing). 

The priest, who was not identified, has reportedly denied the allegations and said that on the day of the incident, he had just arrived in Naga City from Siruma where he attended a fiesta. He also went to a shopping mall and had a massage that evening before sleeping early. The following day, he received several text messages inquiring about the whereabouts of the woman. 

It was also reported that the victim was looking for money to cover the expenses for her child’s baptism on June 23. 

Vivencia, the victim’s mother, and the victim’s cousin and best friend, Sherilyn, both claimed to have known about the illicit relationship the priest allegedly had with Jeraldyn. Sherilyn also reportedly said that the priest was the child’s father.

For 10 years, the victim worked as a helper at the priest’s residence. 

Guns for hobby

Meanwhile, Laguna Bishop Buenaventura Famadico confirmed that there are priests in his diocese who own guns but clarified that these were only for hobby purposes and were not acquired because of the recent killing of priests.

Famadico, who heads the Episcopal Commission on the Clergy-Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (ECC-CBCP), added that they are coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on how these clergymen could dispose of the firearms that were bought even before Fathers Marcelino Paez, Mark Ventura and Richmond Nilo were killed.

He explained that a number of priests in his diocese are gun enthusiasts and have these firearms for their hobby. 

The prelate discouraged his priests from carrying guns, explaining that if the assassins hired to kill them are really determined, then they would be killed.  

He asked the government to provide security not only to the priests but to the ordinary citizens as well, especially the poor. 

In an earlier interview with Radio Veritas, Famadico said he was against the arming of priests even if this is only for self-defense.

In Dagupan City, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said it is “not in their nature as priests to keep quiet” even as they “break their silence in order to be teachers by example, ready even for martyrdom.”     

“We are men of the Word. We cannot keep quiet, but we are not noisemakers,” they said in the statement titled “We must not keep quiet.”

The priests, gathered during the interment of Fr. Nilo last Friday, said they shared with one another their doubts and confusions, frustrations and heartaches, anger and afflictions, tears and hopes.  

“We do feel the pain of persecution but we also know we are not forsaken. The consoling assurance of the Lord was overwhelming too,” they said in a prayer reflection session last Monday. 

In their statement, they also said: “We are not here as holier than the flock. We are here as the most miserable among sinners but we have been raised to this dignity by the sheer kindness of the Almighty. We have no illusions of sanctity.” – With Eva Visperas