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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Arayat priest 'scaring away' investors: mayor
ARAYAT Mayor Luis Espino said Thursday parish priest, Fr. Emiliano Dizon, is "frightening" investors and traders by stating in his homily and circulating in text messages the "constant violence and killings" in the town.
Speaking before some 100 teachers during the 2006 First Sectoral Conference with School Administrators at the Arayat Central Elementary School in Barangay Poblacion in the town, Espino said he has received disturbing reports that Dizon, parish priest of the St. Catherine Church in the town, has allegedly sent "alarming" text messages stating that should anything bad happen to him, it is the mayor (Espino) and businessmen Rene Medina and Arthur Cabigting "who are responsible".
The text messages were sent to local chief executives, priests, businessmen and journalists all over the province.
With the report, Espino is appealing to San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto to intervene with the seemingly brewing rift between the Municipal Government and the church in the town.
He said he wants Aniceto to help "set the record straight" and enlighten those who wish to sow fear and confusion among the people of Arayat.
The mayor said he has no "bad intentions" towards Dizon, but only prays that the church and the Municipal Government work together to achieve peace, prosperity and progress for the town and its people.
He added that he is doing everything to further improve the image of Arayat by providing livelihood and educational programs, infrastructure development and a friendly business climate for investors.
He said Medina was supposed to donate some P15 million for the improvement of the St. Catherine Church, but backed out because of the "controversy".
Espino said the reported killings in the town are "isolated cases" and most of the incidents have already been resolved.
Dizon was unavailable for comment as regards the mayor's claim during press time. (CN)
(January 13, 2006 issue)
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