Cabanatuan bishop offers prayers for massacred Ecija family

CABANATUAN CITY — Bishop Sofronio Bancud of the Diocese of Cabanatuan on Sunday offered prayers for six people who were killed by a 34-year-old farm helper in San Leonardo town at dawn on Friday, April 20.

“Ang kaparian, mga relihiyoso at relihiyosa, at ang Diocesan Council of the Laity ng Diocese ng Cabanatuan ay nagpapaabot ng taus-pusong pakikiramay sa mga mahal sa buhay ng mga biktima ng masaker sa Barangay Tambo Adorable, San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija,” Bancud said.

(The priests, the devotees, and the Diocesan Council of the Laity of the Diocese of Cabanatuan offer our sincerest condolences to the families of the people who were massacred in Barangay Tambo Adorable in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija.)

Jessie Tesoro was surrendered on Friday night to the Tarlac City police by volunteers of a neighborhood watch group, who took custody of the suspect after they discovered him huddled at a street corner at past 5 a.m.

Police said Tesoro had fled San Leonardo where he allegedly killed his girlfriend, Jeniffer Cariaga, and 5 people who were reportedly his relatives, including two children. A survivor said Tesoro and his girlfriend were arguing hours before the attack, while the others were sleeping, at Friday dawn.

Tesoro and his girlfriend moved to the San Leonardo house two weeks ago, where he has taken on farm work for P200 a day. The suspect was charged with multiple murder and frustrated murder.

“Nawa ang malagim na pangyayaring ito ay muling magpaalab sa diwa ng ating misyong ipalaganap at itaguyod ang kapayapaan ni Kristo sa daigdig na ito,” the bishop said.

(We hope this tragedy would inflame the spirit of our mission of establishing God’s peace on Earth.)

Bancud also acknowledged the police’s swift action in solving the crime. /je