LOBOC, Bohol — Parishioners of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Loboc town, Bohol are mourning the death of their parish priest who was found dead last Monday evening.
Father Marcelino Dano Biliran, 56, was found hanging inside the toilet in his room at the convent at 6 p.m. last Monday by a church worker who checked on him after he didn’t come out for dinner.
Insp. Sam Dacullo, Loboc police chief, said Biliran hanged himself using an extension wire.
“There was no foul play in Biliran’s death,” Dacullo said yesterday.
Dr. Lev Varquez, Loboc Rural Health Unit Officer who conducted an autopsy on the body, said Biliran died of asphyxia due to constriction of his neck. A relative, who asked not to be identified, said the priest was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.
Since then, the priest had been depressed, a friend of Biliran said. Parishioners said Biliran was rarely seen officiating Mass in the past months.
Biliran’s death dampened the festive atmosphere of the community preparing for the fiesta celebration of their second patron saint, St. Paul the Apostle.
“It is very sad for the community, sad for me and sad for everybody,” said Loboc councilor Tessie Labunog-Sumampong, a parishioner.
“He (Biliran) was a wonderful guy,” she said.
Another parishioner, Vir Jala, 50, said Biliran had been a great help to the parishioners, especially those who needed advice and support.
Last April, Biliran celebrated his 25th Sacerdotal Anniversary.
He studied Bachelor of Arts Major in Philosophy at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Taloto District, Tagbilaran City and at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Mabolo, Cebu City.
Biliran served as parish priest in several parishes in Bohol.
He was parish priest of St. Isidore The Farmer Parish in Bilar before he was transferred to St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Loboc on June 8, 2015.
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