Missing parish priest found alive in Silang, Cavite

After going missing for two days, a parish priest in Rosario, Cavite was found alive but tied up inside his vehicle.

In a “24 Oras Weekend” report on Sunday, Most Holy Rosary parish priest Reverend Father Leoben Peregrino was seen unconscious in a vehicle parked in Silang, Cavite.

He was then taken to hospital in Laguna, authorities said.

According to Peregrino’s family, the priest was supposed to travel to Imus on Friday morning to buy a candle.

Rosario Municipal Police chief Police Colonel Ruther Saquilayan said they are now investigating the incident, but could not yet speak with Peregrino as he was still traumatized.

“Until now, we’re still conducting an investigation. Bina-backtrack namin ang mga CCTV na mga pinagdaanan niya. So far, ang mga nakuha pa lang namin hanggang Dasmariñas which is siya lang ang sakay,” he said.

(Until now, we’re still conducting an investigation. We are reviewing the CCTVs that he passed by. So far, we have only gotten those from Dasmariñas which showed that he was still the only one on board his vehicle.)

“Hindi pa rin po kasi makausap si Father dahil na-trauma po sa pangyayari,” he added.

(We still can't talk to Father because he was traumatized by the incident.)

The incident also surprised those who knew the priest.

According to Salvador Azuela, a vendor outside of the Most Holy Rosary church, Peregrino had been a parish priest there for six years.

“Si Father Peregrino ho, napakabait po siyang pari dito. Okay naman ho siyang pari. Strikto, pero mabait,” he said.

(Father Peregrino is a good priest here. He is okay. He is strict but he is good.)

— Giselle Ombay/DVM, GMA News