Priest slugging it out in municipal council derby

ILOILO CITY — A village priest in Carles town north of this city has thrown his hat in the electoral ring, slugging it out with 23 other candidates for municipal council seats.

Fr. Oscar Andrada, parish priest of Barangay Bongco, listed "Toto Oca" as his nickname, not "Father Oca" as he is popularly known. He is running under the Lakas-CMD (Christian-Muslim Democrats) party.

Fr. Boy Celis, a campus minister and a friend of Andrada, told The STAR that he agrees with Andrada’s decision to seek an elective position, saying it is an act of charity and is for the service of the community.

Although other priests in the Archdiocese of Jaro have frowned upon Andrada’s decision, Celis described it as "great and laudable."

Should Andrada win, Celis, however, said he has to choose whether to retire or resign as parish priest and concentrate on local legislative work.

Andrada, he said, is fit to be in public service since he has a Master in Business Administration degree from the Asian Institute of Management.

Celis said Andrada has been a priest for 35 years, serving the parishes of San Joaquin and Tanza in this city before overseeing the Catholic faithful in Barangay Bongco.

Andrada, he said, may have talked to Archbishop Angel Lagdameo before he made up his mind in entering the electoral race.

The STAR tried to reach Andrada but failed.