Naga Prelate Urges End to Speculation Over Priest's Death

NAGA City, August 1, 2010- As the investigation gets underway, a prelate urged the public to avoid unnecessary speculation on the death of Fr. Baltazar Acompañado Jr., and wait for more information to become available.

Following media speculation that the priest committed suicide, Caceres Archbishop Leonardo Legaspi said people should avoid it as a matter of respect for the 35-year old priest.

Acompañado was found dead inside his room at the Pre-College Seminary in San Jose town in Camarines Sur last Wednesday with a 38-caliber revolver near his body.

He was laid to rest yesterday at the Resurrection Garden in Naga City, the burial ground for priests of the Archdiocese of Caceres.

Legaspi earlier described Acompañado, rector and vocation director of the Holy Rosary Preparatory Seminary, as "a good and dedicated priest." Acompañado was also Archdiocesan Vocation Director of the Caceres archdiocese.

In his sermon during his regular 6:00 a.m. Sunday Mass at the Naga City Cathedral, the prelate said it would only be a matter of time before the authorities furnish his office the official report of its investigation.

"Sa ngayon, lubhang mahalaga na makita natin ang pagkakaiba ng mga tunay na pangyayari sa mga haka-haka o speculation," he said.

"Hanggang sa sandaling ito ang kaso ay under investigation," the senior prelate also said.

He added that the authorities have not released their findings and it is only fitting and proper to wait for them to report on the incident.

"Sa sandaling ipalabas ang findings na iyan, ay aking pag-aaralan, at pagkatapos, sa tamang pagkakataon ay aking ipaaalam sa inyo ang aking kalooban," he said. (CBCPNews)