ZAMBOANGA CITY—There’s a constant reminder for priests and other members of the Catholic community in the province of Sulu that has nothing to do with their faith but about staying safe and alive.
“If you are being kidnapped, run for your life, fight if you can,” said Bishop Angelito Lampon of the Vicariate of Sulu, addressing himself to priests and lay leaders.
Lampon said he had been telling priests, nuns and other religious workers to make sure they are safe all the time.
“In other words, don’t get kidnapped,” he said.
Lampon told the Inquirer on the phone that because of threats from criminal groups, including the Abu Sayyaf, the movement of religious workers in Sulu had been restricted.
“Sometimes, some of them go out upon the invitation of the military to say Mass or visit parishes on the islands of Sitangkay, Sibutu and Tabawan, but they are closely guarded,” he said.
He said he himself was escorted by at least two soldiers whenever he goes out of Jolo, the provincial capital.
“That’s how it is,” Lampon said.
He said the Catholic Church did not want to make an issue out of the threats to the security of religious workers because “we have so many good Muslim friends.”
But he admitted that the situation in Jolo is tense.
“The cathedral had been subjected to grenade attacks seven times already,” Lampon said.
Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, also the Archbishop of Cotabato, earlier told the Inquirer that the security measure authorities adopted for priests, nuns and other religious workers was welcomed by the Catholic Church.
But Quevedo admitted that while precautionary measures had been taken, members of the religious community in Sulu cannot be sure they are safe.
“One cannot be assured of their safety. Anything can really happen,” he said.
On Dec. 28, 1990, Fr. Benjamin Inocencio, OMI, was shot behind Jolo Cathedral.
The Abu Sayyaf was tagged in the Nov. 14, 1993, kidnapping of American missionary Charles Watson in Sulu. He was released less than one month later.
In 1993, two Spanish nuns were abducted in Jolo.
In 1997, American priest
Fr. Clarence Bertelsman was also abducted in Jolo.
On Feb. 4, 1997, Jolo Bishop Ben de Jesus was killed in an attack just outside the same cathedral where two gunmen shot him at close range. He suffered six bullet wounds, one in the head. Julie Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao