CHR denounces ‘brutal, brazen’ killing of priest

MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights yesterday called for justice over the “brutal and brazen” killing of 37-year-old priest Father Mark Ventura.

“Given the State’s duty in ensuring the protection of our right to life, we urge the government to not let this case go unresolved by acting expediently and bring the perpetrators to justice along with other cases of deaths in the country,” CHR said in a statement.

The young priest was gunned down by unidentified assailants last Sunday after officiating a mass in Gattaran, Cagayan.

His death prompted Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle to renew his calls to Manila churches to toll their bells at 8 p.m. in memory of the slain priest.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called the killing of Ventura, also an anti-mining advocate, an “evil act.”

He was the second priest who was killed in a gun attack in a span of four months. Last December 2017, activist priest Father Marcelito Paez was also shot dead by motorcycle-riding gunmen in Jaen, Nueva Ecija.

Recently, Sister Patricia Fox, who has spent 27 years in the country helping the oppressed sectors, was ordered to leave the Philippines for supposedly participating in “partisan political activity.”

“We hope that this series of attacks against church workers who are doing important humanitarian work for the vulnerable sectors is not another form of harassment against human rights defenders,” CHR said.

The commission also urged the public to demand the end to killings and violence.