Cebu priest seeks probe into colleague’s death

A Cebu-based priest has sought a deeper investigation into the death of his colleague, who was found lifeless in a motel room earlier this month. Fr. Sinfronio Atienza made the call to Cebu archdiocesan officials after police ruled out foul play in the death of Fr. Alexander Villamor Salve. “It is better if an investigation can be done so there is an account of the real story," Atienza said in an article on the Union of Catholic Asian News. Salve, 52, died of a heart condition at Perpetual Succor Hospital in downtown Cebu City. His body was found inside the Pacific Tourist Inn on April 15. Doctors said he died of myocardial infarction. A hotel front desk attendant confirmed media reports saying Father Villamor checked in as “Al Villa." She said he was alone when she checked him in at 5 p.m. Wednesday last week “Around 7 p.m. the hotel guard notified us here at the front desk that our guest in room 426 needs to be taken to the hospital," the report quoted the front desk attendant as saying. She said the guard checked the guest out after “a concerned citizen" told him a man in that room, whose door was open, needed medical help. Atienza, one of three priests in the team ministry program with Salve, said the late priest’s family also supports an investigation to end speculation as to what he may have been doing. Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal was “saddened" by news of Salve’s death, Atienza said. He said Salve may have checked in the hotel to rest. “He complained of chest pains in January and the other day, but he was not able to have a medical check up," Atienza said. Salve from Carmen town, north of Cebu, was ordained a priest in 1986. He was assigned to Fatima parish in Basak, Mandaue City, and San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish in Tisa district of Cebu City. He was assigned to Santo Tomas parish team in Pardo district in 2008. - KBK, GMANews.TV