No suspension for priest in Dumanjug quarrel

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma: Saddened by a priest’s conflict with a woman.

Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said no preventive suspension, for now, will be imposed on the parish priest accused of slapping a woman who destroyed the padlock of a church gate to enter the grounds in Dumanjug town.

An inquiry by Msgr. Rey Penagunda, vicar general, is underway.

“Suspensions are carried out depending on the gravity of the offense. It is also not fair to suspend a person under investigation because suspension, in the language of the Church, is almost like you are judging him already,” the prelate said.

Fr. William Ybañez will be allowed to stay as parish priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish in barangay Bitoon, Dumajug town.

A final report by Msgr. Penagunda has not been submitted yet.

According to Msgr. Jose Tan, media liaison officer, Penagunda already went to the remote parish and spoke with Fr. Ybañez.

READ: Angry priest hit woman over destroyed padlock

He said the 51-year-old Fr. Ybañez confirmed the angry encounter with the woman, an employee of a burger joint, but denied hitting her.

“He said he was provoked,” said Tan, and that the priest swung his hand toward the woman’s hair, with no intention of injuring her, but to stop her aggressive behaviour with the warning gesture.

There was no physical contact, he said.

On the other hand Teresita “Timtim” Sambrana, 37, an employee of Big Mac Burger Machine told police the priest angrily confronted her and knocked her on the head with a closed fist and grabbed her hair.

Both of them went to the Dumanjug police station right after the encounter to record their separate accounts of what happened.

Msgr. Tan said that “at least the woman was spared from physical harm” but that Fr. Ybanez “has to apologize to her because this is not the right way to deal with a conflict especially if you are a priest. There are other means like dialogue,” he said.

Police said the woman alleged that she went to the church compound at 6 a.m. Wednesday last week with her manager to get some stocks and clean up the stall of the burger station inside.

The church caretaker wasn’t around, so the woman destroyed the gate’s padlock to enter.

While she was cleaning the premises at 6:45 a.m., she said Fr. Ybañez angrily approached her.

The priest’s account in the police was blottered as a complaint of “malicious mischief.”

Police said they are still waiting for the woman to produce a medical certificate as evidence of her injury.

Asked yesterday if church officials are advising the woman to to settle the conflict amicably, Msgr. Tan said they havent spoken to her yet and that their latest information was that her family advised her to quit her job but would pursue a formal complaint.

“Fr. Ybañez will have to face the charge and not run away from it,” said Msgr. Tan.

“The church will not stop her if she pursues court action.”

He said the case may take longer to deal with because other issues have been raised and some parishioners want Ybanez ousted.

Bitoon is a small, remote parish and Ybanez is the only priest there, one reason it’s difficult to pull him out pending investigation.

“So far, Msgr. (Rey) Penagunda has not recommended the transfer of Fr. Ybañez. I respect his decision. The truth is immediate action, that is the investigation, has been done,” Archbishop Palma said.

Senior Inspector Jose Villarin, Dumanjug police chief, said they were still hoping both parties could settle the conflict at the barngay level.

He said Sambrana has decided to press charges of physical injuries against the priest.

The priest, meanwhile, named Sambrana and her companion Rochel Simbajon as parties in malicious mischief after she destroyed the padlock.

Archbishop Palma said he would like to speak with the priest himself.

“I’m really sad because normally we should be gentle and understanding to women. I do not judge, but in general, we should be gentle in our dealings with ladies,” he said.

To the beleaguered priest, Palma said it would be better to apologize if he committed a mistake.

“In principle, we should not be ashamed to say sorry,” he told reporters.

If charges are filed against Ybañez, Palma said the Church will abide by any court decision.

“We love our priests but if the court will later find him guilty, he has to face whatever punishment,” the archbishop said.

Palma also said he respects the parishioners who expressed plans to run a signature campaign for the removal of Ybañez from the parish.

“That’s the people’s prerogative. We will listen to that. We will look at the merit of that campaign. Like anybody else, each one should be given a chance for an investigation,” he said.

“We will not close our eyes to the reality on how we performed our duties, served and relate with people. We will see to it that justice and charity should be administered,” he added. /With Correspondent Apple Mae Ta-as and Eileen Mangubat