Priest relieved over treasure diggings in old cemetery

ILOILO CITY—Church officials have ordered the relief of the parish priest of San Joaquin town in Iloilo province for allowing the “unauthorized” diggings at a Catholic cemetery that has been declared a national cultural treasure.

Fr. Nelson Silvela is among those facing a criminal complaint for the diggings at Campo Santo de San Joaquin, a mortuary chapel at the Spanish-era cemetery.

Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo appointed Fr. Junnick Territorio, episcopal vicar and chancellor of the archdiocese, as the new administrator of the San Joaquin parish, 54 kilometers from Iloilo City.

“He (Territorio) will be reporting directly to the archbishop about the pastoral care of the parish,” said a statement released by Msgr. Joemarie Delgado, director of the Jaro Archdiocesan Commission on Social Communications.

Silvela filed for an indefinite leave of absence effective on Feb. 28. He could not be reached for comment and has not been seen in the town.

The cemetery, including the Campo Santo, and San Joaquin Church are among the structures and sites declared national cultural treasures by the National Museum of the Philippines. These are also popular tourist destinations.

On Feb. 24, police arrested 10 men believed to have been digging for hidden treasure inside the Campo Santo in Barangay Purok Uno. A 50-foot deep excavation was found in the area.

Confiscated from the suspects were several pieces of equipment and gadgets, such as a metal detector, two submersible pumps, shovel, digging bars, safety helmets, a hacksaw and emergency lamps.

On Friday afternoon, the municipal police filed the criminal complaint against Silvela and the 10 men at the Iloilo Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Republic Act

No. 10066, or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.

The suspected treasure hunters were identified as Ardenito Arguilles Jr., Ferdinand Caras, Alfe Depol, Isidro Quiatchon Jr., Ceferiano Cabo, Christopher Cabo, Jimmy Moscoso, Jeven Moscoso, Andres Dela Cruz and Arnel Vejo.

None of them are from San Joaquin. Some are from the neighboring towns of Tigbauan and Miag-ao in Iloilo, while several others are from Capiz province and Manila.

Napoleon Secondes, the barangay chief, said he had called the attention of Silvela after a “kagawad” (watchman) reported the diggings on

Dec. 17 last year.

“He (Silvela) told me he has a project at the cemetery and that I refer to him any queries about the diggings,” Secondes told the Inquirer in Hiligaynon.

He said he did not further question the diggings then because “it was the priest who sanctioned it.”

But residents later asked why the diggings were done at night and while the entrance of the cemetery and mortuary remained locked.

Hundreds of them have been offering prayers and lighting candles at the cemetery since Thursday. They were again expected to pray the Holy Rosary at the cemetery on Sunday afternoon.

Delgado said the archdiocese would also investigate the incident. “What is important now is that the pastoral needs of the people will not be compromised,” he told the Inquirer.

He said the people were disheartened with what has happened and stressed that Lagdameo and the archdiocese did not authorize the diggings.

The archdiocese will coordinate with government agencies for the possible restoration and repair of damaged structures.