SUSPENDED priest, Fr. Oscar Banzon, answers questions from a reporter during his campaign for the position of village chair of Kawit in Medellin, Cebu. LITO TECSON/CEBU DAILY NEWS
CEBU CITY – The priest who was suspended by Church leaders for defying a ban on members of the clergy entering politics has won his bid to become village chair in a town in Cebu province.
Father Oscar Banzon, 55, was declared winner over his closest rival, the incumbent village chief of Kawit in Medellin town.
“My victory is also the victory of the people of Kawit,” said Banzon. He won by just 83 votes over Charito Areglado, incumbent village chief of Kawit.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, however, expressed dismay at the decision of Banzon to defy the ban on priests running for public office.
“There are other priests who ran for government office and they regretted what they did,” said Palma. He said he thought Banzon “was not serious in his plan to run for barangay captain.”
Palma said he tried to dissuade Banzon from running before Banzon filed his certificate of candidacy (COC).
“He knew that he’s going to be suspended,” said Palma of Banzon. The archbishop said days after he tried to talk Banzon out of his plan to enter politics, Banzon sent a text message to Palma to inform the archbishop that Banzon had filed his COC.
“I texted him back and told him that I don’t have any choice but to suspend him,” said Palma. “He said ‘I understand bishop,’” added Palma.
“I was surprised he won,” said the archbishop.
“This is a free country. If people voted for him, then that is their choice. I respect the will of the people,” said Palma.
Asked how he ran his campaign, Banzon said he just told the people that he wanted to implement changes on how the barangay is being run by incumbent officials.
“I told them we need change,” he said, adding that corruption and illegal fishing had been prevalent in the village of Kawit.
Banzon said he would fight corruption in the village and run an administration that is pro-poor.