Jesuits lament priest's mention in Advincula's new claims

Philippine Jesuits on Friday lamented that a a priest of good standing has been dragged into the controversy of the "Ang Totoong Narco-list" videos that were allegedly used to discredit President Rodrigo Duterte's administration and his allies.

The priest in question, Father Albert Alejo, is known for organizing an anti-corruption program and was one of the priests who received death threats after President Rodrigo Duterte attacked Catholic Church officials.

"Fr Albert Alejo, whose name was mentioned by Peter Advincula yesterday, is a Jesuit priest of very good standing," said Fr. Nono Alfonso SJ, Communications Officer of the Philippine Jesuits in a statement.

"He has a Doctorate Degree in Anthropology from London and has taught in Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Zamboanga and now at the Ateneo de Manila University. He was also director of various social centers in which he championed the causes of women, labor, indigenous peoples and muslim Filipinos," he added.

The statement was issued after Fr. Albert Alejo was mentioned by Peter Joemel Advincula, who claims to be "Bikoy" the hooded person in the series of videos that linked family members of Duterte and his allies to the illegal drug trade.

Advincula, in a press conference on Thursday, recanted his initial revelations. He then tagged Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and the Liberal Party as the people behind the videos.

The allegations have been denied by Trillanes and Vice President Leni Robredo, the Liberal Party chairperson.

Advincula said he met Trillanes through a priest he identified as Fr. Albert Alejo.

Father Alfonso, in his statement, underscored Alejo's good standing in the academic and religious communities and pastoral work.

"Indeed in academic, development and religious circles, Alejo’s name has been synonymous with scholarship, truth, justice, and love for the poor," Alfonso said.

"It is therefore sad that he is now being painted in a bad light. It is also unfortunate that he is being dragged in the ongoing controversy," he added.

Alejo is known for organizing an anti corruption campaign in the1990s called "Ehem" that is recognized by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), which encouraged the implementation of its programs in parishes nationwide.

Alejo is one of three priests who disclosed publicly that they have received death threats in March this year.

The threats were sent amid President Duterte’s attacks against Catholic priests and the Church and their vocal opposition to his bloody drug war, which has killed thousands of mostly poor Filipinos since he took office in 2016.

Alfonso gave his assurance that Alejo would speak "at the proper time and in the proper fora" if needed. — BAP, GMA News