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2 years later, still no cases filed vs. Fr. Pops’ suspects
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By KEITH BACONGCO
IDAPAWAN CITY – “Let us keep our hope for justice alive.”
This was the message of Kidapawan Bishop Romulo dela Cruz, DD, during the Eucharistic Celebration on the second death anniversary of Italian missionary Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, PIME, at the bishop’s residence compound here today. The Italian missionary was gunned down inside his parish compound in Arakan, North Cotabato. Two years later, no cases against the suspects have been filed in court yet. Dela Cruz urged the parishioners to continue praying and not to lose hope in pursuing justice for Tentorio. “Hope springs eternal,” the bishop said. Just like the killing of Fr. Tulio Favali in 1985, the parishioners remained hopeful that justice will be achieved. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit,” Dela Cruz read the gospel. Ten other priests joined the bishop in a mass held beside the cemetery, where slain missionary Tulio Favali was also buried in 1985. Around 1,000 people coming from different parishes of the diocese gathered for the commemoration of Tentorio’s killing. The parishioners, lumads, and members of militant groups marched around
the major thoroughfares of the city amid the heavy rain. The bishop said the Church is grateful for the persistence of Fr. Peter Geremia, Tentorio’s colleague in the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and fellow Italian, despite his age. Like a miracle Geremia said in an interview last week that it would be “like a miracle” if justice will be served (on Tentorio’s case) in his lifetime. At 75, Geremia admitted that he had some frustrations while struggling to build up the case against the suspected paramilitary members who were reportedly behind the killing of the 59-year-old missionary. “If that were to happen, that will be like a miracle. I would be grateful. But if it doesn’t come out completely in my time, maybe it will come out eventually,” he told MindaNews. Tentorio’s parishioners have been accusing the military as behind the killing, which the military repeatedly denied. Tentorio has been known for his advocacy work for the indigenous peoples, environment and human rights. Geremia, assistant parish priest of Arakan, admitted that some of his colleagues and parishioners have been telling him that what he is
Militant groups and parishioners of slain Italian missionary Fausto "Pops" Tentorio, PIME, call for justice in a march rally in Kidapawan City on Thursday October 17, 2013. The rally is in commemoration of the 2nd death anniversary of the priest. Up to this day, no cases have been filed in court yet against the suspects. (Mindanews Photo by Keith Bacongco)
trying to accomplish in the present system is almost impossible. Like the exposé on the anomalous transactions on the priority development assistance fund (PDAF), Geremia said he is also hoping that a whistleblower would come out and say something about the system of impunity in the government. He added that it seems those who have been implicated, particularly the members of the paramilitary
group, are “untouchables.” “We continue to challenge the system of impunity as we continue to challenge the system of corruption,” Geremia stressed. Further investigation Gregorio Andolana, lawyer of the Diocese of Kidapawan, said they have requested for further investigation following the retraction of three witnesses. Al Calica, chief regional prosecutor for Region 12, has ordered for further investigation following the
clarificatory hearings held in Arakan last July. During the hearing, Geremia said witnesses presented by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) retracted their statements implicating brothers Jose and Dimas Sampulna, in effect clearing the Sampulna brothers. “So now the accused are only the Ato brothers and the five Baganis headed by Jan Corbala, alias Kumander Iring,” the priest said. Andolana, a former con-
gressman, said that even with the admission of former North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol that the Baganis exist, no investigation has been made. During the public inquiry conducted by the Commission on Human Rights last May, Piñol admitted that they organized and trained the Bagani paramilitary. The Ato brothers, who were arrested in December 2011, are still under the custody of North Cotabato CASES | page 11
DSWD 12 reports accomplishments in State of the Region Address By DANILO E. DOGUILES
Locals brave the foul smell of the recent fish kill that hit Lake Sebu on Sunday, October 20,2013, in Lake Sebu town, South Cotabato. (MindaNews photo by Bong Sarmiento)
KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato - For the first time, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 12 will hold a State of the Region Address to report its accomplishments in line with its mandate to ser ve the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors. The SORA, set Thursday (October 17) morning, will be held at the Productivity and Technolog y (Protech) Center along Alunan Avenue here w here dif ferent programs, plans and activities of the agency will also be showcased. DSWD-12 Regional Director Bai Zorahayda T. Taha, is expected to highlight the initiatives and activities of the agency in providing coordinated programs and policies for social protection, poverty
reduction, and empowerment. “This is one way of sharing the fruits of our collaborative efforts and on how we have grown and progressed as one family that continues to improve the deliver y of social services to the poor here in region-12,” Taha said in a statement. The SORA is also expected to frontline the agency’s accomplishments in convergence strategy, partnerships, good governance, building competencies and many others. Among expected to grace the activity include partners f rom provincial and lo cal government units, legislators, national government agencies, non-government organizations, civil society org ani z at i ons, me d i a and other sectors. (DEDoguilesPIA 1 2 w it h H T E st a c i on , DSWD-12)