‘Drunk’ parish priest accused of shooting teen motorbiker

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — While other priests are being gunned down in other parts of the country, a town clergy in Capiz province was accused of firing his gun at a 19-year-old motorcycle driver.

Father Federico Lim, parochial vicar of Dumarao town in Capiz — who hails from Barangay Bailan in Pontevedra, Capiz — was accused of shooting Sarenjay Padernal following a commotion at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Poblacion Ilaya of the town.

Luckily, Padernal, a Grade 12 student and resident of Barangay Bungsuan, also in Dumarao, was not hit.

Senior Superintendent Samuel Nacion, Capiz Police provincial director, said responding policemen immediately took Lim into police custody. It was alleged that the incident started when several motorcycle riders parked their vehicles outside the church’s gate.

Most of them were at the town plaza to partake in Dumarao’s pre-fiesta activities. “Someone apparently informed Fr. Lim that he might not maneuver his vehicle inside the church’s premises as several motorcycles blocked the driveway,” Nacion narrated.

When Lim — who was believed to be under influence of liquor — arrived, he allegedly got mad upon seeing the parked motorcycles blocking his way. He alighted from his vehicle and began shoving away the motorcycles until some of them tumbled down.

Upon learning what happened, several owners of the motorcycles challenged Lim to go outside the convent and face them. Initially, the priest stood his ground and did not go out. But then, someone from the group then hurled a stone that broke the convent’s window.

Police investigators theorized that Lim got threatened and fired his gun. Padernal claimed that he was Lim’s target but was not hit.

Authorities said the Dumarao policemen, who were conducting patrol in the area, heard the gunfire and responded to the area immediately.

A team from the Capiz Police Mobile Force Company augmented the local police to quell the tension. Lim voluntarily turned over a .45-caliber Caspian pistol (serial number 8885738) with one magazine and six ammunition.

Based on the documents he presented his firearm license was already expired. A stone and broken pieces of jalousies were also recovered by the police.

As this developed, Nacion said the complainant has agreed to drop charges against Lim. But he has yet to sign an affidavit of non-interest. However, the priest might also be held for illegal possession of firearm, he added. (FREEMAN)