Bishop Leonardo Medroso of the Diocese of Tagbilaran called on parishioners to unite in prayer after the apparent suicide of Fr. Marcelino Biliran inside the convent of St. Peter the Apostle Church in Loboc.
In his official statement, Medroso said that members of the Tagbilaran Diocese lamented the death of Biliran whom priests described as a humble and giving person, particularly as his passing was sudden.
Although the incident surprised and baffled them, members of the Diocese of Tagbilaran will respect the findings of the police investigation on the death of their fellow priest.
Biliran earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy degree at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary (IHMS) in Barangay Taloto in Tagbilaran and also studied at Seminario Mayor de San Carlos in Mabolo, Cebu City.
In 2016, he celebrated his 20th year as priest as he was ordained on April 12, 1996 at the Diocese of Tagbilaran.
The 56-year-old priest became curate at various parishes in Bohol. He was assigned at various parishes including Sta. Cruz Maribojoc, Santisima Trinidad in Loay, and San Isidro Labrador in Bilar.
Medroso is scheduled to hold a funeral mass for Biliran today and will be followed by the priest’s burial at the Necroplis inside the IHMS compound.
Biliran was found dead inside a restroom at the Loboc church convent on June 27, 2016. (with reports from Rey Tutas)