Archbishop Oscar Cruz dies at 85

Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a Filipino Catholic leader, died due to a lingering illness at the age of 85 on Wednesday, August 26.

“Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan died today at 6:45 am at the Cardinal Santos Hospital due to a lingering illness,” announced the news service of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

ADVERTISEMENT
He was the Archbishop Emeritus of Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, Philippines, from 1991 to 2009.

Oscar Cruz was born on November 17, 1934, in Balanga, Bataan, Philippines. He received his seminary training at the University of Santo Tomas Central Seminary and further theology studies at the Lateran University.

His priestly ordination was on February 8, 1962, and his episcopal consecration on May 3, 1976. He was the first Filipino rector of San Carlos Seminary of the Archdiocese of Manila from 1973 to 1978. He was an auxiliary bishop of Manila (1976–1978) and archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Fernando (1978–1988). He served as a judicial vicar of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) National Tribunal of Appeals, and director of the CBCP Legal Office. He was appointed Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan on July 15, 1991.

Cruz has published many books, including CBCP Guidelines on Sexual Abuse and Misconduct: A Critique, and Call of the Laity.

ADVERTISEMENT

Also read: Former Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes dies of COVID-19

Archbishop Oscar Cruz dies at 85

Manila RTC, Branch 52 Judge Antonio Rosales on May 14, 2008, issued the warrant of arrest, granted the P10,000 bail motion, and Archbishop Oscar Cruz posted bail. Libel cases were filed against him after he accused the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) of using female staff to act like “guest relations officers (GROs)” during the 2004 birthday celebration of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. His arraignment is set on June 17.

Cruz was also known as a critic of sitting presidents, most recently Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III, and Rodrigo Duterte.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archbishop Oscar Cruz once said President Duterte is “worse than a dictator.”

“Delikado ang mga ganitong nilalang, higit pa kung ito ang napiling pinuno ng isang bansa [Such a creature is dangerous, much more if he is chosen as a country’s leader],” Cruz said in a GMA News interview in November 2015, a few months before Duterte became the President.