Bishop to focus on rogue cops’reformation

CEBU, Philippines — Outgoing auxiliary bishop of Cebu Oscar Jaime Florencio, the newly-appointed military ordinary of the Philippines, is planning to tap the different chaplains of the army and police headquarters to help rogue policemen.

His installation as the current Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines comes with a challenge with recent reports of Manila police officers arrested for extortion and illegal detention.

The 53-year-old Catholic prelate said through the chaplaincies, they could find ways on how to help out in the spiritual reformation of policemen and the army to avoid crimes among law enforcers.

He said it is important to look into the circumstances why law enforcers commit crimes or offenses.

Through this, he said, the military diocese can make a proactive approach wherein the priests can identify beforehand the "red flags" or some particular signs of problems that require attention.

At present, Florencio said the military ordinary is rolling out a program dubbed "Kaunting Pahinga," which is a brainchild of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.

The program serves as a retreat for cops for mental, spiritual, and physical resiliency, especially with the recent issues hounding the police force.

Florencio said the program is a form of assurance to cops that they are not fighting a battle alone and their basic spiritual and mental necessities are not overlooked.

He plans to replicate the program in Cebu.

Pope Francis named Florencio as the country's new military ordinary on March 2. It was announced in Rome.

It has been nearly two years since the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines lost its bishop with the passing of Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak in June 2017.

Aside from serving Catholics who are in the military and police, the bishop of the Military Ordinariate is also responsible for the pastoral care of those in the coast guard units and prison service.

Before his appointment to the ordinariate, Florencio served as Cebu's auxiliary bishop from October 2015 to March 2 this year.

The prelate is not really new to his job, having served as the military diocese's apostolic administrator since 2017.

Florencio was born in Capoocan town, Leyte province. He started his priestly vocation when he was ordained diocesan priest under the Palo Archdiocese on April 3, 1990. — KBQ (FREEMAN)