CITY OF SAN FERNANDO ---- Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz lambasted anew suspended member of the clergy incumbent Governor Eddie Panlilio for being a ‘bad example’ among the group of clergy in the country.

This developed as Panlilio has made up his mind not to return back to the priesthood, instead, he joined the Liberal Party as provincial chair and has filed his certificate for candidacy. This made Panlilio a complete politician.

In a statement over the radio, Cruz who has been consistently castigating Panlilio said the suspended cleric has continuously and blatantly defied the universal law of the church that clerics are prohibited to hold civil power.

“Sa aming pag-aaral, mula walo hanggang labingdalawa taon, itinanim sa isip namin, kami ay hindi dapat manilbihan na may kapangyarihang civil. Imposible naman na mismomng batas ng simbahan ay kokontrahin pa ng Diyos sapagkat ang simbahan ay sa Diyos. Ang batas ng simbahan ng ang mga pari ay hindi maaaring magkaroon ng kapangyarihan o poder ng sibil,” Cruz said.

Cruz said he has been vocal about Panlilio since the beginning because he has been a bad influence. “Hindi naman ako nanahimik sa bagay na iyan sapagkat masama siyang ehemplo. Meron na namang isang pari (na pumasok sa pulitika),” he said.

Cruz disclosed that there were Catholic bishops who were complaining why Panlilio was only suspended from being a cleric as he entered politics.

“Ako naman wala akong magagawa sapagkat hindi ko naman pari sa Fr. Panlilio. Mayroon siyang Arsobispo na siyang dapat kumilos,” Cruz added.

However, he said if asked to give advise, he would suggest that Panlilio should be kicked out from the roster of clerics.

“Hindi po puwedeng manatili siya sa estadong clerical. Hindi siya puwedeng manatili na siya ay kasama pa ng kaparian diyan sa Pampanga. Siya po ay dapat pawalan na ng kanyang mga tungkulin bilang isang kleriko,” the archbishop said.

“Halimbawang bumalik siya, hindi siya naging Liberal, hindi siya nagfile uli ng gobernador, halimbawa bumalik siya sino ang mangungumpisal sa kanya? Sinong makikinig sa kanyang sermon? Sinong magtitiwala sa kanya?,” he said.

Cruz said Panlilio cannot be into two places at a time as he said, Panlilio cannot put his left leg apart from his right.

“Hindi makatwiran at hindi makatotohanan. Ang dalawang paa ay nasa isang lugar lamang. Kung gusto niya (Panlilio) ng pulitika ay pulitika na lang, kung kaparian, kaparian. Mamili po siya, hindi puwedeng doble,” he said.

Cruz said in Church theology, clerics are only for the Church service and for those who faith in the church.

About the statement of Panlilio that his being in politics is God’s will, Cruz said the obedience to the Church law are God’s will. “Ang simbahan po ay sa Diyos, hindi naman po puwedeng kontrahin pa ng Diyos ang kanyang simbahan,” he added.