Salt of the Earth: Claretian slain

Social justice news
May 2000

Claretian Father and three others slain in Philippines
A Claretian missionary and three other hostages were slain on May 3 in Basilan, the Philippines after Philippine military clashed with Muslim separatist rebels who were holding 27 hostages—mostly children—who had been seized from two Claretian schools on March 20. The hostages had been shot execution style and some had been mutilated after Muslim rebels holding the captives stumbled across Philippine troops by a river crossing, and both sides opened fire.

Father Rhoel Gallardo, C.M.F., a male teacher, and two female teachers were killed during the melee which ensued. Fifteen children and their teachers were rescued after the gunfight in Basilan Province, but military officials said the others were taken away by the fleeing Abu Sayyaf rebels. Five of the rescued hostages were injured, one seriously. They were taken by helicopter to a military hospital.

Rebel leaders holding a separate group of 21 hostages on neighboring Jolo Island said two of their foreign captives died during a clash with troops. But military officials said they had no knowledge that any of the hostages—who include 10 foreign tourists—were dead.

The two clashes came during a chaotic day of attacks in the southern Philippines on May 3. As the hostage standoffs degenerated into gunfights, the region's other major rebel group claimed responsibility for a series of bombings that left at least four dead and dozens wounded in several towns. It was the worst recent outbreak of violence linked to the rebel groups fighting for a separate Islamic state in the Philippines' impoverished Mindanao region, home of the country's Muslim minority.

In the Basilan incident, soldiers chanced upon the rebels at a river crossing and screamed to the hostages, "Drop to the ground and don't run away," according to one of the rescued children, Regardo Gregorio. He said they dropped down and the soldiers and rebels began firing.

There was no official word on who killed the four hostages. But there were indications that their captors were responsible. A priest who saw the bodies, the Rev. Martin Jumoad, said they had been shot in the head at close range. Several, including the female teachers, had apparently been hacked on their bodies and arms, he said.

The 27 Basilan hostages were among about 50 people seized by the rebels on March 20 for use as human shields. The rebels later released some captives, but they said they beheaded two male teachers two weeks ago. That claim led the military to launch an offensive against the rebel stronghold. Troops overran the area in fierce fighting over the weekend but failed to find any of the captives. The rescued hostages said they had been taken from the camp on Saturday and forced to walk each night through forest trails.

The clash on Jolo apparently occurred when the separate group of 21 hostages there were being transferred to another location, officials said. Troops seized the hut where the hostages had been held, but found no one inside.

A statement from Claretian Superior General Father Aquilino Bocos Merino, C.M.F.
To Mr. Dominador and Mrs. Raquel, parents of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, and to all the relatives of the four who have died.

To Fr. Provincial and all members of the Philippine Province
To all Claretian Missionaries.

Fr. Carlos Rivas, Provincial Superior of the Philippines, has just talked to me over the phone, telling me the sad news about the killing of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo, one male teacher and two female teachers of the Tumahubong School (Basilan, Philippines). It has been a tragic ending for our Brother and these teachers who, together with other teachers and students of the School, have been held hostage since last March.

The Claretian Missionaries and many Christian communities from all over the world have been praying for Fr. Rhoel and his companions since freedom was taken from them. We trust that our payers have been of help and support for Fr. Rhoel and his three companions during the crucial moments of sealing their faith with their blood. We share the pain with the parents and relatives, with the Philippine Province and with the Christian community of Tumahubong.

We are now touched and moved, especially because we had hoped for their imminent liberation. No other words come to my mind but those of Jesus hanging on the Cross. Thinking of those who have killed him: "Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing." And looking at Fr. Rhoel: "Today, you will be with me in paradise."

Forgiveness and Hope! I am certain that our Brother and his companions are now rejoicing with the Risen Christ, interceding before our merciful Father for their parents and relatives, for their brothers in the Congregation, for all faithful Christians of Tumahubong and, also for those responsible in taking their lives.

Our brother, Fr. Rhoel, has died in the missionary vanguard of the Philippine Province. He, like all young Claretian missionaries of this province, knew his mission was one of high risk.

They were aware of what happened previously to the other members of the Province and, particularly, the 49- day long kidnapping of Fr. Bernardo Blanco. However, they have never thought of abandoning these difficult assignments. They have been firm in their purpose of taking care of the Christian community, in dialogue with the people and sharing life with the Muslims in Basilan.

The Lord has rewarded them, in their missionary life, with this brother martyr of Jesus Christ. In the future, they will look at him in order to rekindle and stimulate the fidelity to their vocation as Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to whom "nothing daunts him, he delight in privations, welcomes work, embraces sacrifices, smiles at slander, rejoices in the torments." (Aut 494).

Fr. Rhoel has died a few days before the celebration of the 50 Years of the canonization of Fr. Claret, our Founder, who kept an interior attitude of martyrdom during all his life. Fr. Rhoel is already part of the crown of martyrs that our Congregation proudly wears in celebration of the 150 years of its life of service to the Gospel.

Mr. Dominador and Mrs. Raquel: Do not cry for your son! Give thanks to God for having him as your intercessor in heaven.

Brothers of the province of the Philippines: His testimony is the lamp that has to be kept alive with the fire of charity and love for the people and the Church in Basilan.

Claretian Missionaries, let us accept this death as a call to a deeper commitment to the Kingdom. Rhoel reminds us with his death that the Kingdom of God suffers violence, and that only those with courage can cooperate to its growth.

I believe to echo the deepest sentiments of all of you when I say to Mary: Thanks, O Mother, for you have given us in Rhoel, Son of your Heart, a clear sign of how to follow Jesus faithfully till giving up our life for Him.

Thanks, Rhoel, for you have been close to the people, to those who suffer, those who are persecuted, and for teaching us how to defend those who are weak. Though you are dead, you will continue talking to your companions and brothers of the Province, and to all different Christian communities you have ministered.

Thanks to you, Claretian Missionaries of the Philippines for continuing to risk your lives, striving constantly for peace, justice and love for all peoples of all races and religions

The death of Rhoel brings closer to us the memory of our brothers of Barbastro, and make us say: These are your sons. beloved Congregation, who surprise with their extreme love, going to places where no others dare to go, remaining at the side of the cross of those who suffer and bringing always new hopes!

At the same time that I give my condolences to the relatives of the victims and to the Philippine Province., I would like to invite everybody to share in the consolation that our faith offers us in Jesus Christ, our hope and our life.

In Jesus and Mary,

Aquilino Bocos Merino, C.M.F. Superior General. May 3, 2000
Feast of the Saints Philipp and James, Apostles and Martyrs.

Latest news from the Philippines:
May 5— The biggest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines declared a unilateral 48-hour cease-fire on Friday after weeks of fighting with government forces on southern Mindanao island.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said in a statement the cease-fire would take effect at 6 a.m. on Saturday. There was no immediate government reaction to the rebel statement.

The MILF is the bigger of two Muslim groups fighting for an Islamic state in the south of this mostly Catholic country. The other group is the fundamentalist Abu Sayyaf, which is holding two separate groups of hostages, including 21 mostly foreign nationals on southern Jolo island and around 10 Filipinos on nearby Basilan island, both off Mindanao.

Mindanao, 800 km (500 miles) south of Manila, is home to most of the five-million-strong Muslim minority in the Philippines. The government and the MILF have been holding peace talks since 1997 when they agreed to cease hostilities as part of efforts to end a 28-year separatist rebellion which has claimed more than 120,000 lives.

Sporadic fighting has marred the 1997 truce. The latest series of clashes began in mid-March when the MILF seized and briefly occupied a town hall in Lanao del Norte province, prompting President Joseph Estrada to order an all-out military offensive. In seven weeks of nearly daily clashes since then the military says it has killed more than 300 guerrillas for the loss of a few dozen soldiers.

More than 20 people were killed in the latest upsurge of violence on May 3 when rebels bombed public places in the predominantly Catholic city of General Santos, seized more than 100 hostages from a highway and attacked a major army camp with grenades.

The MILF later withdrew, leaving the captives behind. On Friday, the MILF was suspected of bombing a radio station in Marbel town on Mindanao island, causing minor damage but no injuries. It was earlier said the attack occurred on Carmen town. In a separate incident unidentified men exploded a grenade outside a mosque now being used as an Arabic school in Davao city, the biggest city in Mindanao. Officials said there were no casualties.

The spreading violence has prompted appeals from politicians and from Catholic and Muslim religious leaders for a truce between the two sides to enable the resumption of peace negotiations. The MILF said in its statement it had decided on a unilateral cease-fire "considering the appeals of various public and private sectors" (for the two sides) to immediately halt the armed hostilities in Mindanao and return to the negotiating table to resume the stalled peace talks.''

The 110,000-strong Philippine military estimates the strength of the MILF at about 15,000 men and that of the Abu Sayyaf, a more radical group which has shunned peace talks with Manila, at more than 1,000.

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