By BONITA ERMAC,
Correspondent
ILIGAN CITY — A Roman Catholic priest has decided to fold up his vestments to run for the second highest office of this city.
Msgr. Jemar Vera Cruz temporarily took off his priestly vestments after officiating a mass in the Cathedral Church, here, before filing his Certificate of Candidacy under Regencia Team of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) on October 15.
He said this would mean that his priestly ministry and responsibility will be left in the mean time so he could devote more time for the new mission and calling that is a transformation of our society through the government public service.
“It is about serving the people in a new capacity,” said Vera Cruz.
The Roman Catholic church frowns on priests who go into secular politics. However, if the need is strong, Vera Cruz explained, “we can do no more than to respond positively.”
“What is important to us priests is to seek the will of the Lord at all times at all costs even offering my life as a sacrifice,” he added.
“I will not take it seriously there accusations because it would not give me a dent in my desire to help the people in Iligan, he stated.
Vera Cruz hopes they will be victorious in the position they seek in government and hopefully transformation and reformation would take in place under their administration.
“We will put up the designed reformation and transformation on the governance of the city, and we would like to see everything will be set up right and be done right for the people.
The 53 year old priest, a native from Cebu, graduated his theological studies in Manila. Vera Cruz has been serving as a priest in Iligan for 29 years already.
“As soon as everything would be set up, then the Bishop would ask me to go back, 2-3 years at least,” he said.
The complete local NPC candidates who have filed their certificate of candidacy are the following: Congressman: Alipio “Tikbong” V. Badelles; Mayor: Celso G. Regencia (filed his COC on October 13 through Special Power of Attorney), represented by his wife Marissa Regencia. for Vice Mayor: Jemar Vera Cruz; councilors: Samuel Huertas, Sol Bacsarpa, Demy Plando, Bunz Lim, Ian C. Uy, Norodin Cabaro, Ryan Ong, Titin Ances, Jake Balanay, Eric Capitan, Noli Pardillo and Val Murillo.
Disclaimer
Mindanao Gold Star Daily holds the copyrights of all articles and photos in perpetuity. Any unauthorized reproduction in any platform, electronic and hardcopy, shall be liable for copyright infringement under the Intellectual Property Rights Law of the Philippines.
