DAVAO City Councilor Conrado "Conde" Baluran confirmed and supported the accusations hurled by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte against Fr. Pedro Lamata, parish priest of the St. Mary's Parish in Buhangin.

The confirmation came following the admission of the Archdiocese of Davao who also appealed for "understanding and forgiveness" over Lamata's shortcomings.

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In an interview Monday, Baluran said his younger sister was the girl referred to by Duterte in his expose.

Bularan said his sister Ma. Asuncion "Mara" Baluran was indeed married to Fr. Pete Lamata in 1982 in Dauis, Bohol.

He said the marriage has been kept secret from their family for a year, until a relative who had helped facilitate the marriage revealed it to them.

"From what I gathered from Mara, Fr. Lamata [had] promised her that he would leave priesthood after their marriage. Pero di nangyari 'yun kaya my sister decided to go to Switzerland na lang to start a new life there," the councilor said.

Baluran said Mara stayed in Switzerland for three years with their relatives but later returned home to start her own business.

Baluran said his family had already forgotten the incident that took place more than two decades ago.

He said they had also decided not to confront Fr. Lamata when they learned about the secret since the church had already sanctioned him for his mistakes.

Baluran said the priest's love affair with his sister started when Lamata was assigned as assistant parish priest in the Immaculate Concepcion Church in Mintal where the Balurans reside.

He said the affair was kept secret by the two. They had this relationship for more than a year before they decided to get married.

"Hindi talaga namin alam. Bago pa lang pari si Peter Lamata nun eh. My sister was then working with PLDT [Philippine long Distance Telephone Company] here in Davao. In fact, yung father namin namatay na lang 'yun nang 'di alam na may nangyaring kasalan. Mga one year after the marriage, nabulgar na yung kasalan dahil nagsumbong na yung auntie ko dahil she was so bothered," Baluran recalled.

Baluran said his mother, who was then a member of the Catholic Women's League, had left the ministry for such reason.

"My mother was a devout Catholic. Kung di lang ako seminarian before ay umalis na din ako sa Catholicism eh," Baluran said.

He said he knew Lamata back in the seminary and never expected that the priest would have an affair with his sister.

Facilitator

Baluran said that after Sunday's episode of "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa," his priest friends asked him to arrange a meeting with Mayor Duterte.

"Sabi ko sa kanila na ayoko na makialam diyan. It's now a burden on their side to talk with the mayor," Baluran said.

He said the priests told him that they were ordered by Archbishop Fernando Capalla to try to meet with the mayor to discuss Duterte's accusations against Lamata.

Baluran said the priests are not angry with Duterte's expose‚ and are also not denying Lamata's offenses.

"They still recognize the mayor as the father of the city. Gusto lang nila makipag-usap para malinawan ang issue," Baluran said.

Apology sought

Baluran said Mayor Duterte has called him around 3 a.m. Sunday and apologized for dragging the Baluran family into his fight with the priest. Sunday's show was taped Saturday evening.

He said he has told Duterte that it's okay and that he is fully supporting the mayor in his fight with Lamata. He agreed that the priest has gone overboard when he called Vice Mayor Sara Duterte as Inday Badiday.

"Pero sabi nung mga pari na kausap ko ay sige man daw deny si Lamata na tinawag niyang Inday Badiday si vice mayor," Baluran said.

Repercussions

Baluran said his mother and Mara were the most affected by the expose.

It was learned that the 93-year-old Baluran matriarch was rushed to the hospital Sunday after complaining of pain.

Mara has also phoned the councilor, asking for developments regarding the issue.

"Umiiyak si Mara dahil apektado daw siya sa nangyari," Baluran recounted. Mara, he said, was preparing to take the bar examination later this year to become a lawyer.

Baluran admitted that Duterte's exposes‚ have opened old wounds. But said he is not blaming the mayor.

"I would have done the same just to defend the honor of my family members," Baluran said.

Appeal for forgiveness

In a statement, Archbishop Capalla appealed for understanding and forgiveness from Mayor Duterte.

"It is true that 27 years ago, Father Lamata as a young priest had gone through a civil marriage with a woman. According to Church law this is a serious violation, which brings about an automatic suspension from the priestly ministry. So Father Lamata was suspended," Capalla said.

He added: "According to the same law, to be forgiven and restored to the priestly ministry, there are steps and procedures to be followed aside from humble repentance and separation."

"I was informed when I came to Davao to succeed Archbishop Antonio Mabutas that the repentant Father Lamata had complied with the prescribed requirements of law which took him several years. After the prescribed period, he returned to Davao and was reinstated into the priestly ministry," Capalla said in the same statement.

"Since that time until today, like a wounded healer Father Pedro Lamata has been a dedicated and energetic priest and pastor, well-loved and respected by many people, especially his parishioners and friends, even from among the Muslims and Protestants," the statement read.

Capalla said: "This statement is being issued so that His Honor, the Mayor, and others, especially the media, will be duly informed and hopefully correct themselves. For those who would take advantage of this unfortunate incident to put a wedge between Mayor Duterte and Father Lamata, the words of Jesus Christ to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery might be helpful: 'He who has no sin should throw the first stone' [John 8:7]."

"As the spiritual father of all the Catholics in Davao City, including my friend Mayor Digong [Duterte] and my priest Father Pete as well as others who might be in a similar situation, I would like to appeal for compassionate reconciliation, that is, to forgive and to receive forgiveness. This is being recommended not immediately but when both are predisposed for this Christian act. Also, that forgiveness is given and received not to deny the church's moral teachings -- which must be preached boldly -- but to admit the possible misinterpretation and misinformation that followed certain public utterances," he added.

Incidentally, the biblical passage Capalla cited was also the biblical passage Duterte cited in a huddle after the taping as he continued to pour out his anger against the priest.

Based on National Statistics Office records, the marriage is still valid and has not been annulled.