MANILA, July 14, 2011—Relatively unknown to most radio and television audience who remained glued to the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing yesterday, the youngest of the bishops called to shed light on the Margie Juico expose, is one of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ latest addition to its rosters.
Clad in his light-gray polo barong, the 47-year old Auxiliary Bishop-elect David William Valencia Antonio of Nueva Segovia was instructed by Archbishop Ernesto Salgado to represent him as the senators conducted their inquiry into the so-called “Pajero bishops.” The 74-year old archbishop has been abroad for a couple of weeks and failed to make it to the hearing.
Interviewed by CBCPNews, Antonio said he thinks his appearance at the Senate hearing was “part of the job” and “portent of things to come.”
He said as an auxiliary bishop he believes he has to be ready to give witness to the truth and the faith or whatever the Church teaches.
“I must also be courageous,” he hastened to add.
The new bishop said he felt bad when he learned that the archdiocese received a Pajero from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office because it is not true.
The archdiocese is quietly serving the poor, Antonio said, and to be faulted for something that is far from the truth really hurts.
The new bishop believed there was some closure achieved in yesterday’s hearing because they were able to prove the accusations were wrong and sent the message to the world that the information fed by media “who were obviously against the Catholic church, were not that accurate.”
Antonio was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nueva Segovia last June 15, 2011 and will be ordained Bishop on August 26, 2011 in Vigan.
Two other prelates were appointed by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI last June 15. Laoag Bishop Sergio Lasam Utleg was named Archbishop of Tuguegarao and Msgr. Jose Salmorin Bantolo as Bishop of Masbate. (Melo M. Acuna)
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