Lacson ‘open’ to probe killings of Catholic priests

After opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that he is willing to conduct an investigation on the series of killings and attempted killings of Catholic priests. (Photo: Senator Ping Lacson/Facebook)

After opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that he is willing to conduct an investigation on the series of killings and attempted killings of Catholic priests.

“Yes, I will hear it, but it has to wait until after the formal referral of her resolution is made to the public order committee when the 3rd regular session starts on July 23,” Lacson, who chairs the Senate panel, said on Wednesday, June 13.

On Wednesday, Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 764, asking the Senate to direct its public order and dangerous drugs committee to investigate the killings of Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez, Fr. Mark Ventura, and Fr. Richmond Nilo.

“These killings come on the heels of continued verbal attacks of President Rodrigo Duterte on the Catholic Church and its religious leaders particularly in light of the Catholic Church’s strong critique of the present administration’s War on Drugs,” Hontiveros said in her resolution.

“Is there a systematic attempt to kill Catholic priests who are critical of the administration? Tinotokhang na rin ba ang mga pari ng simbahang Katoliko na naglakas-loob na ipahayag ang kanilang kritikal na boses sa laganap na patayan, katiwalian, at pang-aabuso (Are priests of the Catholic church, those who are brave enough to express their critical voices on the widespread killings, corruption, and abuses also victimized by tokhang)?” she asked.

The Duterte administration was repeatedly criticized by the Catholic Church for its anti-illegal drug campaign which resulted in thousands of deaths.

Hontiveros expressed concern that the President’s verbal attacks and the “dismissive attitude” towards the killings “may inspire more priest-murders and other acts of violence on members of religious communities.”

It was on December 4, 2017, when Fr. Paez, a human rights advocate, was murdered after he helped facilitate the release of a political detainee in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.

On April 28, Fr. Ventura, a Cagayan priest and a known anti-mining advocate, was also shot dead by riding-in-tandem assassins when he was blessing children after celebrating mass.

Meanwhile, Fr. Nilo of the Diocese of Cabanatuan was also shot dead by unknown assailants inside a chapel last June 10.

Aside from the cases of the three priests, Hontiveros also wants the committee to look into the assassination attempt against Fr. Rey Urmeneta of Calamba, Laguna, who was severely wounded and immediately brought to a hospital after he was shot by an unidentified attacker on June 6.

Malacañang, for its part, said on Wednesday that the Philippine government and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have started investigations into the crimes and vowed that perpetrators behind the deaths of the three Catholic priests will be brought to justice.