Priest asks mayor: “Why get angry?”

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines— "Why would he get mad?" This was the question raised by Father Greg Patiño about the plan of Mayor Andrew Montelibano, of Murcia town in Negros Occidental, to oust him and Father Agustin Hinayan from the town over their campaign against illegal drugs and gambling.

Patiño said it is true that they talk about illegal gambling and drugs in their sermons during a mass. "But we are not implicating anyone. We are not saying that he (the mayor) is a user or a pusher. We are only educating the parishioners about the bad effects of drugs and gambling."

As this developed, a surprise drug test was conducted Thursday on all officials and employees of the Murcia municipal government.

Montelibano said: "It seems we have been singled out about drugs so we decided to face the issue by having a drug test." The results will be released after a week, he said.

Patiño told The Freeman that the crimes in Murcia were mostly related to drugs and gambling, saying, "the figure is alarming."

The priest clarified also that it was not only he and Father Hinayan who have been campaigning against illegal drugs and gambling but the pastors, as well. "This is part of our moral obligation to teach, guide and enlighten the parishioners."

He said he was not surprised if Montelibano wanted to oust them from Murcia, admitting that they talked personally with the mayor last week and brought up the problem.

Patiño said the mayor told them that "he can't do anything about it since he lacks power to stop it (crimes). If you want, you can bring it up to the higher-ups."

The priest said he and Hinayan were not condemning any officials. "We love the mayor and the officials," he said, but insisted that they will still continue to teach the public about the evils of illegal drugs and gambling.

Montelibano, for his part, said he "will have a meeting with all the officials and decide" whether or not they will push for the ouster of the two priests.  (FREEMAN)