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Murdered priest?replaced another martyred?missionary?
By Malu Cadelina Manar
KIDAPAWAN CITY?
The Diocese of Kidapawan has condemned in strongest terms the brutal killing of Father Fausto Tentorio, PIME, parish priest of the Mother of Perpetual Help in Arakan, a hinterland town in North Cotabato.
Bishop Romulo dela Cruz of the Diocese of Kidapawan, in an interview over Catholic-ran DXND, said they were in shock when they learned about the killing of Father Tentorio, 59, who is known to his parishioners as Father Pops.
?This is really heinous. We?re in shock. We?re so sad that this killing had happened in broad daylight,? said Bishop dela Cruz.
Autopsy reports showed that Father Tentorio sustained eight gunshot wounds in different parts of his body.
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Fr Tentorio in happier times: Photos courtesy of Davao City?based human rights group Barug Katungod Mindanao
Sr. Insp. Benjamin Rioflorido, chief of Arakan PNP, said they recovered from the crime scene four empty shells from a 9mm pistol, which was used in the priest?s killing.
Rioflorido has kept mum when asked if the killing has something to do with Father Tentorio?s staunch advocacy against mining and other criminalities in Arakan town.
?As of now, we?re studying lots of angles but nothing is definite as of this time. We have yet to know the motive and the identity of the killer and the mastermind in the killing,? Rioflorido said in an interview.
The Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), another congregation of religious missionaries in Mindanao, has strongly condemned the killing.
?For a fellow missionary who selflessly worked to help the indigenous peoples and the poor farmers of Arakan Valley in North Cotabato to die in such a manner, we are saddened by the fact that there are sectors in our society who are against our work to help bring about peace in Mindanao,? said Oblate Philippine provincial superior, Father Lauro de Guia, OMI.
De Guia has appealed to authorities to bring the perpetrators before the bar of justice.
?We grieve with the PIME, the people of Diocese of Kidapawan and in their moment of sorrow and pain,? said the Oblates in their statement issued today.
Barug Katungod, a human rights group based in Davao City, has described Father Tentorio as a long-time missionary living among the Manobo tribe in Arakan Valley.
Fr. Tentorio, according to Barug Katungod, first arrived in the Philippines in 1978 and was assigned in North Cotabato in 1985, almost two years after the killing of Father Tulio Favali, PIME, in Tulunan town.
?He was active in giving various services, including literacy schools, scholarships, and health services for the indigenous and peasant communities. His immersion in the life of the local communities also made him vocal against militarization which has affected the lumads and peasants in North Cotabato. He has escaped threats to his life from paramilitary groups,? said Barug Katungod, a consortium of Mindanao tri-people human rights defenders spearheaded by Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao and supported by the European Union.
?Another church leader has been martyred and this belies the military propaganda of bringing ?peace and development? through Oplan Bayanihan in the countryside. When even a missionary for the Lumads is targeted, [there is] continuing state of impunity in the countryside,? the group added.
Bishop dela Cruz said the wake for Father Tentorio in his parish in Arakan town would stay until Wednesday.
After which, his body would be brought to the Bishop?s Palace, this city.
As to funeral arrangements, Dela Cruz said he has yet to get final instructions from the PIME congregation in Metro Manila.
?Right at this time, what we really want is for authorities to act swiftly so that justice for Father Tentorio?s death would be achieved,? said dela Cruz.
MALU CADELINA MANAR
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