Bishop Gutierrez dies at age 79
Marbel Bishop Emeritus Dinualdo Gutierrez (1939-2019). PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDA P. MILAN
By CBCP News
February 10, 2019
Manila, Philippines
Retired Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel died before dawn Sunday, the diocese has announced. He was 79.
Gutierrez passed away at about 5:03am in hospital in General Santos City.
He would have turned 80 on February 20.
“Please pray for the repose of his soul,” said Bishop Allan Casicas, the current leader of the Marbel diocese.
Gutierrez, former head of the Church’s National Secretariat for Social Action (Nassa), served the diocese for 35 years.
He stayed on after the retirement age of 75 until his successor was appointed in April 2018.
Gutierrez was a strong advocate for the environment in South Cotabato, a province threatened by mining interests.
Under his leadership, the diocese led the struggle against the copper and gold project of the foreign-backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc. in Tampakan town.
