Monday, October 16, 2006 Nalzaro: Diotay and Tapic’s side By Bobby Nalzaro
LAST Saturday, I discussed documents I obtained detailing some “revealing” information on properties worth millions that Pardo parish priest Msgr. Constantino Diotay and his assistant Rev. Fr. Domingo “Sunday” Tapic allegedly amassed. The documents, I believe, came from a group of Pardo parishioners, who demanded the transfer of the two priests, who, they allege, are engaged in immoral acts for using donations and proceeds from various fund-raising activities for their material needs.
The documents also contained the affidavits of two former parish helpers, who exposed the alleged immoral acts of Monsignor Diotay. Pol Navarro and Johnrey Soronio said they were privy to the love affair and active sexual life of Diotay. They said Diotay has children by two women. A female employee of a cooperative based in Naga also accused the priest of raping her in an uptown hotel.
The documents also contain a list of properties allegedly owned by the two priests, including several apartment units, vast hectares of land and beach resorts. The estimated value of Monsignor Diotay’s real estate holdings is around P60 million, while Father Tapic’s assets are assessed at around P37 million.
Just yesterday, through Sun.Star Opinion Editor Bong Wenceslao, I obtained the affidavits of Diotay and Tapic, which they also sent to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Diotay admitted owning some of the properties on the list, but he said the claims were bloated. He said he acquired the properties a long time ago, and that he already gave these to his various nieces and nephews. He denied the rape accusation, saying it could not happen since he suffers from an erectile dysfunction as a side effect of his diabetes.
Tapic, for his part, said the allegations were all lies. He said the two church helpers who executed the affidavits were just used by some interest groups out to destroy them. Tapic said their accusers have already recanted their statements.
Well, it’s still worth looking into by our church leadership. Hello archdiocese?
