Bishop Socrates Villegas: protégé and confidante of Cardinal Sin Philippine Daily Inquirer
November 05, 2009
MANILA, Philippines—Known as the protégé and confidante of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, Bishop Socrates Villegas was ordained in October 1985 and served as Sin’s private secretary and spokesperson for 19 years.
Villegas also became the rector of Mary Queen of Peace Our Lady of the Edsa Shrine after its establishment in 1989, and served the Archdiocese of Manila as vicar general, minister for priestly formation, minister for youth affairs, and head of its various districts, among others.
He became bishop in August 2001 and served as auxiliary bishop of Manila until he was installed as the third bishop of Balanga, Bataan, in July 2004.
Villegas was a close friend of the late President Corazon Aquino. He called for a 13-day rosary prayer crusade in May “for the total healing” of Aquino as she was battling colon cancer.
Villegas has also openly criticized the Arroyo administration. During his homily on the 25th anniversary of the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. in August last year, Villegas said: “Credibility is low. Corruption is high. Poverty is widespread. Skepticism is deep.”
“If our nation is to be healed and if we truly want to live in true democracy, we must learn to live in the truth, without the cloak of executive privilege,” Villegas said, referring to a ban on officials from appearing in congressional hearings without the President’s approval. Lawrence de Guzman, Inquirer Research
Sources: Archdiocese of Manila, CBCP Online, Inquirer Archives
