1 week ago
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MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte — A Roman Catholic bishop has suspended a priest after he filed a certificate of candidacy last year for municipal mayor in Southern Leyte.
Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines said he has stripped Rev. Fr. Jason Ortizo of his priestly ministry upon learning that he filed his mayoralty candidacy in San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
Ortizo, a brigadier general in the Philippine National Police (PNP), used to be the PNP Director for Chaplaincy.
"I can only say that a chaplain who runs for mayor is suspended," Bishop Florencio told The Manila Times through text messages.
"I suspended him the moment I learned that he filed his candidacy. But even before his filing, I talked to him [about] this, but he was already to file the same," explained Florencio.
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Florencio said Fr. Ortizo cannot anymore say Masses as a result of his suspension. Ortizo availed his early retirement as PNP chaplain on Oct. 1, 2024, seven days before the last day of the filing of certificate of candidacy.
He is running under the Lakas–Christian Muslim Democrats party.
Now 51 years old, Fr. Ortizo served as PNP chaplain for 24 years and one month.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ramon Arguelles, then-bishop of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines Diocese.
Ortizo said he joined politics to continue the legacy of her mother, outgoing Mayor Benedicta Tianzon.
"I wish to serve my townmates although it was a difficult decision, but I decided to continue the legacy of my 73-year-old mother," Ortizo told The Manila Times.
"I will focus [on] uplift[ing] the lives of our people in Southern Leyte," promised Ortizo.
