‘Most of those who died were our regular Mass-goers’ – apostolic administrator

By: Edwin O. Fernandez - 6 years ago

Photos attached show the inside of Jolo Cathedral following Sunday morning’s blasts. Photos from United Kabalikat Civicom Jolo chapter, a citizen communications group

COTABATO CITY – Father Romeo Saniel of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), the Apostolic administrator of Vicariate of Jolo said most of the fatalities in the Jolo cathedral twin bombings were “regular Sunday Mass goers,” including the head of Parish Pastoral Council (PPC).

Watching the list of fatalities, the teary-eyed Fr. Saniel said Romy Reyes and his wife Leah were among the regular Mass-goers who perished.

“Most of those who died were our regular Mass-goers, they are here every Sunday attending the 8 a.m. Mass,” Fr. Saniel said of Reyes, president of PPC. “They are my personal friends,” he added.

Daisy Barade Delos Reyes, former PPC president and the Reyes couple regularly sit in the middle of the cathedral.

“They bravely stayed in Jolo in spite of the threats and insecurities. I believed they have died for their Christian faith,” Saniel, also president of Notre Dame of Jolo College (NDJC), said.

“No words can describe the sorrow and pain that we feel these days. May they be given justice in God’s time. I know that the friends of the victims (both Muslims and Christians) are mourning and in deep sorrow today,” he added.

“Please pray for all the victims, including the soldiers,” he said.

Saniel and Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon, OMI, were attending the CBCP 118^thplenary conference in Manila when they heard the sad news.

Pope Francis named Saniel as vicariate administrator last December 16 to replace Bishop Lampon who the Pope named as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cotabato./ac