CBCP seeks ‘serious probe’ of ex-Ecija priest’s slay

Authorities have been urged to seriously investigate the murder of a retired Nueva Ecija priest by still unidentified assailants last month.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles made the appeal on Saturday, noting it’s been 19 days since Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez was murdered.

“Paez was an advocate of social justice, particularly on issues affecting the poor,” Valles said.

The 72-year-old victim was ambushed on Dec. 4 in Jaen town after facilitating the release of detained political prisoner Rommel Tucay in Cabanatuan City.

“We call on the authorities to resolve other cases of deaths under investigation that have been disturbing the country in the past few months,” Valles said.

He said the CBCP does not consider Paez a victim, but a martyr as he was still proclaiming himself a priest.

“We refuse to consider Fr. Tito Paez as another addition to the list of victims of extrajudicial killings. He should be counted among our martyrs. Victims have no choice with their fate, martyrs do,” Valles said.

“Fr. Tito had been consistent in taking the side of the poor. He defended the downtrodden, especially the farmers. He was aware of the hazards of his mission,” he said.

He expressed belief that the bullets that felled the priest was intended for someone whom the killers thought was with the priest that day.

“While bleeding profusely from two gunshot wounds, he had the courage to face his assailants and proclaimed that he was a priest,” Valles said.