‘Nothing to do with boy’s death’

The recent reshuffle in the Diocese of Gumaca in Quezon was not meant to cover up the alleged role of a local priest in the death of a 15-year-old altar boy, Papal Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Franco said.

Franco clarified this as the Holy See replaced Bishop Emilio Marquez with Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Gumaca.

Marquez, according to Franco, earlier had been appointed coadjutor bishop to Bishop Ruben Profugo in the Diocese of Lucena.

Reports said Marquez had cleared diocesan priest Msgr. Candido Umali of involvement in the boy’s death.

An autopsy on the boy’s body showed signs of strangulation, belying Umali’s alleged claims that he died in his sleep.

"We don’t tamper with the investigation, we don’t try to conceal anything. We just say it’s unfortunate that it happened but now it’s up to them (police) to find out how things are," Franco said.

The Papal Nuncio also denied rumors that Profugo was ever involved in corruption.

"No, there’s no corruption involved. I don’t know about the rumors, I know the facts so I can tell you that it is not the case," he said.

He added: "Sometimes there is difficulty in facing the needs of the moment. But this is nothing extraordinary or exceptional. There is no corruption. There are difficulties, and (that) is another thing."

According to Franco, Marquez did not file for his retirement and that the bishop is now "undergoing treatment."

Marquez, he said, has had three or four heart bypasses, thus making it hard for him to handle two dioceses.

The Papal Nuncio also denied that there are many incidents of priests’ wrongdoing in the Philippines.

"Thank God, no...We are in a good situation. We (in the Vatican) are happy, of course. And it is not alarming like in the United States," he said.