Priest running for governor warned: Walk the talk

NAGA CITY—The peace group that Father Leo Casas left to run for governor of Masbate, a province known for its feuding political clans and history of political violence, on Thursday warned its former leader to “walk the talk” as it distanced itself from the Catholic priest turned gubernatorial aspirant.

“We wish him well but with the admonition that he should conduct himself with the guiding principles of the Masbate Advocates for Peace (MAP). Otherwise we will be among the first to cry foul,” said MAP in a statement sent to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

MAP is a civil society organization formed in Masbate City in 2010 that seeks to end political violence in Masbate province. Casas had been one of its lead conveners before he severed his ties to the group last week to pursue his gubernatorial aspiration.

“MAP will remain non-partisan in order to help in the conduct of a clean and orderly election in Masbate and to push for other peace and development advocacies,” said MAP.

MAP added that it would not “compromise its impartial nature” for Casas.

Casas on Monday accepted the nomination of the Liberal Party to be its candidate for governor in Masbate even if it meant he would be stripped of his priestly functions by Bishop Jose Bantolo of the Diocese of Masbate, his immediate superior.

He received neither endorsement nor blessing from the Church.

“Fr. Leo has no permission to run for public office. Because he publicly said so, then he leaves his priestly functions. He is suspended from his ministerial powers and obligations,” said Bantolo in a text message to the Inquirer.

Bantolo also clarified that Casas decided on his own when he decided to foray into politics.

The gubernatorial race in Masbate, according to a highly-placed source who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, is expected to be hotly-contested because it will a be a duel between the powerful Kho and Lanete clans, who are among the dominant political families in the southernmost province of Bicol.

On Wednesday, Representative Antonio Kho filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for governor with his wife Elisa Olga, who also filed a COC for representative of the second district of Masbate, the post currently held by Antonio.

Both husband and wife Antonio and Elisa Olga were former governors of Masbate. Elisa Olga succeeded her husband in 2007 and had been the governor of the island-province before she was defeated in her reelection bid in 2010 by incumbent Governor Rizalina Seachon-Lanete, who is now seeking reeelection.

Seachon-Lanete also filed her COC on Wednesday. Her son Scott Davies earlier filed his COC for representative of the third district, the post once held by his mother.

Casas said he would file his COC on Friday.

Lawyer Alberto Cañares III, the provincial supervisor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Masbate, on Wednesday said they were yet to fully prepare for the local election because they were still waiting for instructions from the head office of the Comelec.

“But we support the move and initiative of some sectors for an early gun ban to avoid bloodshed here,” Cañares added.

The Philippine National Police in the province had circulated a manifesto calling all sectors in Masbate to denounce political violence especially election-related killings.

“With the existing situation and previous incidents that transpired in the province, there is a need to have a united endeavor to attain peace and tranquility in the province particularly this 2013 election,” the manifesto said.

On Monday, San Fernando town Mayor Maria Vida Espinosa Bravo also filed her COC for representative of the first district, composed of Ticao and Burias Islands. On the same day, Ricardo Butalid Jr. also filed his COC for representative of the same district. He would pit himself against another powerful clan in Masbate—the Espinosas.

Darius Tuason also filed his COC for representative of the second district, in a head on fight against the Khos.