DAVAO CITY – The Promotion of Church People’s Response vows to continue its advocacy for the Lumads in Mindanao as they remember the slain Italian priest from Arakan, North Cotabato Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio.
Nardy Sabino, general secretary of PCPR said they are marking the fourth death anniversary of Tentorio “with both our call for justice by holding the perpetrators of his extra-judicial killing accountable as well as our continuing advocacy for the Lumad and peasant youth.”
Tentorio was killed on October 17, 2011 at his parish in Arakan. Four years after the incident, no case has been filed against the identified suspects despite the report of the Special Investigating Team for Unsolved cases (SITU) that there was “sufficient circumstantial evidences” to file charges against Jimmy and Robert Ato and Jan Corbala, alias Kumander Iring, and four members of the Bagani group.
“With a compassionate and prophetic heart in service of the poor and oppressed, Fr. Pops’ trailblazing ministry sought to bring education to the Lumad and peasant youth of Mindanao. Fr. Pops facilitated the operation of 80 day-care centers and was instrumental in the establishment of 10 Ata-Manobo schools in Northern Davao,” said Sabino.
He said “Fr. Pops nurtured not less than 3,000 Lumad and peasant scholars during his ministry.”
“As we remember the ministry of Fr. Pops, we are both inspired and determined to continue the advocacy and solidarity with the Lumad in Mindanao. We stand firmly on the side of the Lumad and peasant youth who have a right to attend schools that are culturally-rooted, community affirming, and scientifically grounded,” said Sabino.
“We will not forget the compassionate and passionate service of Fr. Pops. Thousands of scholars have uplifted themselves and enriched their communities with the help of Fr.
