11 Facts About Miguel Purugganan

Miguel Gatan Purugganan was a Filipino prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Ilagan and became a prominent critic of the dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos during the Martial Law era.

Miguel Gatan Purugganan was born in Cabagan, Isabela on November 18,1931.

Miguel Purugganan entered into a seminary in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and continued to the University of Santo Tomas in Manila before he was ordained in 1957.

Miguel Purugganan then took another doctorate degree in theology, but was ordered to return to the Philippines before he could finish it.

Miguel Purugganan eventually became bishop's secretary, assistant parish priest, seminar rector, vicar-general of the diocese of Tuguegarao, auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Nueva Segovia, and from 1974 to 1999, bishop of the diocese of Ilagan.

Miguel Purugganan was chair of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines's commission on lay apostolate, and a member of the CBCP's commissions on canon law and social action, in addition to being a member of its Permanent Council.

Miguel Purugganan opened diocesan programs to respond to the regime's repressive policies, particularly to help the poor defend themselves against abuses.

Miguel Purugganan built up his diocesan staff for social action in the communities, arousing the suspicion of the military, which believed that they were fronting for the New People's Army.

When some of them were arrested for their work, Miguel Purugganan confronted officers at their barracks and demanded their release.

Miguel Purugganan denounced these raids and continued in his advocacy, even after the collapse of the Marcos regime in 1986.

Miguel Purugganan died due to cardiac arrest on July 8,2011, at the Saint Paul Hospital in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.