Suspect pleads innocence
PALO, Leyte- The spokesperson of the Archdiocese of Palo has issued a warning against a man who reportedly acted as a priest.
Father Chris Arthur Militante said that they have received reports that Algerico Cabilogan Jr., who identified himself as a Supreme bishop of the Aglipayan Church was reported to have administered masses in different towns within the Archdiocese of Palo.
“Algerico Cabilogan Jr.is not a Catholic priest and is prohibited from exercising any kind of ministry among the faithful of the Archdiocese of Palo,” the spokesperson of Archbishop John Du said in a press statement.
“As per our present information he has severed himself from the fold of the Aglipayans. Asserting his ‘priestly personality’ he went as far as celebrating sacraments among the Catholic faithful. Presumably he is ‘evangelizing’ and doing his ‘missionary’ work among the Catholics of the Archdiocese,” Militante added.
Cabilogan, based on information reaching the Archdiocese of Palo,“is exercising a ministry that is detrimental to the spiritual growth and sound spirituality of our faithful.”
“It is part of our pastoral solicitude that we take the matter seriously by informing our faithful to refrain from entertaining and participating in the celebrations by this priest,” Militante said.
Meanwhile, Cabilogan vehemently denied the allegations hurled against him.
“Mine is they should know how to respect. We have religious freedom,” Cabilogan said in a radio interview aired over dyXY based in Tacloban City.
He said that what happened was just a matter of “jealousy” among Catholic priests with the spiritual services he gave to the “poorest of the poor.”
“I hope everyone will be cleared over this that I have not committed any violation. I have legal documents to show that I can officiate marriage anywhere in the country, based on what is issued to me by the Philippine Statistics Authority,” Cabilogan said.
He, however, asked the Catholic leaders not to exaggerate everything against him.
Cabilogan expressed his disappointment that the Catholic Church has “degraded” his name and those of minority sects in the public.
“It has caused damage to my family, my name. Thus I am here to clear it. Their allegations that I collected money and hold a mass in a church that is not ours have no basis,” he added.
(RONALD O. REYES)
