MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan celebrated the life of the late Oscar Cruz after the Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan died of COVID-19 Wednesday.
Pangilinan said Cruz, who is an activist priest, practiced what he preached with the latter not afraid to go up against any president and even the Catholic Church itself.
“Archbishop Cruz was a humble servant who lived out what he preached — justice, equality, and compassion for the needy,” said Pangilinan in a statement.
“Nakakalungkot ang pagpanaw ni Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, aktibistang pari na lumaban di lang mula sa pulpito pero kasama ang taumbayan laban sa pangungurakot at mga maling gawain.”
(It’s sad to learn of the death of Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz, an activist priest who fought not only from the pulpit but walked with the people against corruption and bad practices.)
Pangilinan said Cruz fought the “big fight” by going up against the country’s established constitutions such as the government and event the Catholic Church.
Cruz criticized presidents Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and Rodrigo Duterte and called the sitting chief executive as “worse than a dictator.”
The vocal archbishop also described Aquino as “anti-Christian” for his law that promotes the use of contraceptives and that he regretted supporting the former president’s mother, Corazon Aquino, during People Power 1.
Cruz said the aftermath of the 1986 Edsa Revolution could’ve been an opportunity for the Philippines to go up but nothing came out of it.
Estrada and Arroyo weren’t treated any better with Cruz hitting the two former presidents for their involvement in jueteng and corruption, respectively.
The Catholic Church was also at the receiving end of Cruz’s criticisms chastising the institution that he belonged in for its financial and sexual abuses despite other priests choosing to stay silent over the mistakes.
“He went after grafters in government, and confronted the bigger challenges by looking into misconduct among the clergies as the hierarchy worked to preserve the trust of its flock,” said Pangilinan.
“Habang nagluluksa tayo kasama ang buong bayan, humugot din tayo ng lakas sa kanyang buhay na magpatuloy sa kabila ng napakaraming alalahanin ngayong pandemya.”
(While we are grieving together with the people, let us pull some strength from his life and that we continue on despite the many uncertainties during this pandemic.) [ac]