MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Friday hailed the “sacred obligation” of Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz of Lingayen-Dagupan diocese to strengthen the Filipino Catholics’ faith.
“Archbishop Cruz was instrumental towards fulfilling the sacred obligation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in strengthening and furthering the faith of all Filipino Catholics,” Andanar said in a press statement.
Andanar issued the statement, as he joined the Catholic community in mourning the passing of Cruz. Cruz, 85, passed away at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Thursday due to multiple organ failure.
He was laid to rest on Friday morning at the Santuario de San Juan Evangelista in Dagupan City. “We pray for the eternal repose of the soul of Archbishop Cruz,” Andanar said.
He honored Cruz for being a “good friend and a mentor.” He also described Cruz as “someone who was always a source of good news.” Andanar expressed hope that Cruz would continue to motivate Filipinos to be strong and optimistic, especially amid the country’s fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“May his spiritual lessons remain amongst the faithful and be a source of strength and optimism, during our collective fight and recovery against Covid-19,” he said. A native of the City of Balanga, Cruz served at the Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese from 1991 to 2009. (PNA)