MANILA (UCAN): Tributes were paid to Bishop Victor Ocampo of the Diocese of Gumaca, Quezon province, the Philippines, who died of a heart attack on March 16.
The 71-year-old bishop who had served in Gumaca since 2015, died after he was rushed to a hospital according to diocesan chancellor, Father Tony Ryan del Moro, according to CBCPNews.
Born in Angeles City in 1952, Bishop Ocampo was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Balanga in 1977.
As a priest, he served in eight parishes and was the director of various diocesan offices such as the catechetical office, the liturgical commission, the Biblical apostolate, the family and life commission, and was also the chancellor of the diocese.
He was also the diocesan administrator of Balanga in the absence of the bishop, from November 2009 until July 2010.
Pope Francis appointed him a bishop on 15 June 2015, and he was ordained as the third bishop of the diocese on August 29 of that year. He was known as an environmental campaigner before he became a bishop.
The Church is not against development as long as it does not sacrifice the ‘common good’ in the name of progress… the [Kaliwa] dam… in the guise of providing water to Metro Manila, is to our mind against inclusive development
the late Bishop Ocampo
In 2012, Bishop Ocampo opposed the proposal of a US$240 million [$1.8 billion] dam in Quezon province to supply about 600 million litres of water per day to Metro Manila. The government shelved the project following criticism that it threatened the environment, biodiversity, and local indigenous communities.
“The Church is not against development as long as it does not sacrifice the ‘common good’ in the name of progress… the [Kaliwa] dam… in the guise of providing water to Metro Manila, is to our mind against inclusive development,” said statement signed by Bishop Ocampo and other bishops at that time.
Catholics in the diocese said he joined rallies to protest against the dam and offered legal support to communities who fought against the project.
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Vicar general of Gumaca told reporters, “His simplicity of life as a priest, a life that is offered for other people and not for himself, not to be famous, but a simple lifestyle as an individual, manifested in his service to the community.”
Archbishop-emeritus Paciano Aniceto of San Fernando, recalled the late bishop as a “light and bubbly” student.
“He was a very jolly student, with a good fraternal relationship with fellow seminarians,” said Aniceto, his former teacher at the Mother of Good Counsel Seminary.
