OZAMIZ CITY, May 15, 2008—Saint Mary’s Theologate Seminary of the ecclesiastical province of Dipolog, Ipil, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Iligan and Marawe (DIOPIM) has registered their support to Archbishop Oscar Cruz, DD in the face of a libel case filed against him.

In an interview with CBCPNews, Rev. Fr. Severo C. Caemare, rector of St. Mary’s Theologate Seminary, Gango, Ozamiz City said they supported Archbishop Cruz in his crusade against corruption which resulted to the revival of his libel case filed four years ago by twenty women employees of PAGCOR.

“Archbishop Cruz is very vocal against the mismanagement of government officials, corruption and illegal gambling.” Caermare said.

He added, “I believe that the revival of libel case by the Department of Justice is the governments’ tactic to paralyze or threaten the local ordinary in his crusade against immorality.”

Caermare further added the entire Seminarians and SMT staffs are behind Archbishop Cruz in this new challenge.

“I believe that there were no libelous statements of Archbishop Cruz, but the intended outcome of such libel case is clearly to instill fear,” Fr. Caermare concluded.