CBCP to meet priests allegedly arming themselves

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) will meet on Monday with priests from Laguna who allegedly have armed themselves, according to a report on News To Go.

A report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer said that some priests were secretly arming themselves for protection after the killings of three clergymen over the past several months.

In December 2017, Father Marcelino Paez was killed in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

In April, Father Mark Ventura was gunned down after celebrating mass in Gattaran, Cagayan.

Last week, Father Richmond Nilo was shot dead by still unidentified suspects as he was about to officiate a mass in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

A few days before Nilo's murder, a priest who had served as a PNP chaplain was shot by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Calamba, Laguna, but survived the attack.

In a separate phone interview on Balitanghali, Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of CBCP's Public Affairs, pointed out that arming priests would be a contradiction to the ideals that they are preaching to the public.

"Unang-una 'yung hinahayag ng CBCP dito, ito naman kasi ay talagang base lang sa katauhan din ng estado ng mga pari. Kaming mga pari we preach about peace, we preach against violence, we preach against culture of death," Secillano said.

"Do not expect us na talagang magdadala kami ng bagay na ganon dahil taliwas 'yun sa pini-preach namin. May contradiction kaagad," he added.

However, Secillano also clarified that arming priests would still be up to the "prudent judgement" of bishops in every diocese.

"Ito naman ang dynamics niyan eh: Ang mga pari kasi may kanya-kanyang assignment 'yan. Incardinated sila sa isang diocese. Ngayon ang talagang may pananagutan sa kanila eh 'yung kanilang obispo, 'di na naman CBCP," Secillano said.

"Depende 'yan sa obispo nila. We have to respect ano man tingin ng obispo nila, in his wise and prudent judgement. Sila nang bahala diyan," he added.

In Calamba, Laguna, another priest urged for truth and hoped that their ranks would be looked after amid these recent killings.

Father Gerardo Yabyabin made the remark during mass in Saint John the Baptist church, but declined to comment on the news report that some priests in the province were arming themselves.

CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles has earlier said he opposes the arming of priests, saying they should embody peace instead of violence.

Valles said it is part of the duties of priests to not shirk from danger even if their lives are put in peril, as that was what Jesus Christ did.

At 6 p.m., churches will simultaneously ring their church bells as a form of mourning. —Maia Tria and Anna Felicia Bajo/KG/BM, GMA News