Archbishop Oscar Cruz passes away at 85

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz has passed away at age 85, according to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines' (CBCP) news service on Wednesday.

In a tweet, the CBCP News said Cruz died at 6:45 a.m. at the Cardinal Santo Hospital "due to a lingering illness." 

Cruz is a vocal critic of the government during different administrations. He also campaigned against the proliferation of illegal gambling in the country.

Cruz was born on November 17, 1934  in Balanga, Bataan. He was ordained as priest in 1961 and as bishop in 1976.

He served as auxiliary bishop of Manila from 1976 until he was appointed Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga in 1978 and Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan in 1991.

He also served as director of the CBCP Legal Office, according to a report by Isa Avendaño-Umali on Dobol B sa News TV. —with Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News