Negros town execs, priests reconcile

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Officials and the two parish priests of Murcia town in Negros Occidental, who had been in a word war for weeks over the issue of illegal drugs and gambling, have reconciled.

Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano confirmed that he and other local officials have settled their differences with parish priest Fr. Greg Patiño and his assistant, Fr. Agustin Hinayan.

“Everything is back to normal between the municipal officials and the parish priests of Immaculate Conception Church,” he said.

The conflict arose after the priests, in their homilies, dubbed Murcia town as a “haven of illegal drugs,” incensing the local officials.

Montelibano said the reconciliation happened after Bishop Vicente Navarra of the Diocese of Bacolod, which has jurisdiction over the Murcia parish, mediated by celebrating mass at the Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday afternoon.

All municipal officials, employees, barangay officials, and parishioners attended the mass, where the two priests, according to Montelibano, spoke and issued a public apology for their conflict with the local officials.

“I responded and explained that we only had different approaches in handling the problem and I also apologized during the mass,” the mayor said.

Montelibano said the municipal council would withdraw their request for the transfer of the two priests from Murcia. For their part, the two priests are also taking back their announcement denying the sacraments to Montelibano and the councilors.