Mindanao: 12 unsolved murders of priests
November 02, 2011
Thirteen priests have been killed on Mindanao--the second-largest island of the Philippines--since 1970, and a dozen of those murders remain unsolved.
Bishop José Cabantan of Malaybalay links the October 17 murder of Italian missionary Father Fausto Tentorio to mining companies. “We know that he had received threats from paramilitary groups in the past,” the bishop told the Fides news agency. “These groups are linked to mining companies that expropriate the lands from the natives, who the missionary defended.”
“As a Church we ask the government to implement a serious program of protection concerning witnesses, so that the truth emerges and so that this evil culture of impunity that reigns in Mindanao is eradicated,” he added. “This should be the government’s priority, to preserve true democracy and the rule of law.”
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Further information:
- 13 priests killed in Mindanao; the Church to the government: "The culture of impunity urgently needs to be tackled" (Fides)
- The list of priests killed in 40 years of mission in Mindanao (Fides)
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