Human Rights Advocates light up candles in search of justice for Fr. Roda

 

COTABATO CITY- Non-government organizations, faculty and students of Notre Dame University showed their condemnation to the killing of Fr. Reynald Roda in a candlelighting activity held Tuesday here.


Fr. Roda, school director of Notre Dame of Tabawan in Tawi-tawi was tortured and shot dead on the night of January 15, 2008 when he resist to go with armed men attempting to kidnap him.


An Interfaith for Human Rights Advocacy based in Mindanao or MIHRA organized the activity where friends and colleagues of Fr. Roda from the academe and Oblates of Notre Dame gave testimonies on the life and works of the priest.


Moro organizations also called for an independent and thorough investigation. According to Bai Ali Indayla, Secretary General of Suara Bangsamoro, perpetrators should be held accountable for this brutal killing so that justice will be given to Fr. Roda and his family.


“We could not allow also that the killing of Fr. Roda will be used to arrest innocent civilians in Tawi-tawi and be presented as Abu Sayyaf members. We believe that this Abu Sayyaf group is supported by high ranking officials that keep them to continue operate as Father Nacorda also said before. Abu Sayyaf is designed to justify the war on terror campaign of the Arroyo Administration,” Indayla said.


The groups believe that the killing of Fr. Roda is only part of the century-old socio-political issues in Mindanao that until now is still unresolved. Neither anti-terror campaign nor Balikatan exercises can solve these problems unless the government is sincere that just and lasting peace in Mindanao be achieved.


Fr. Roda will be laid to rest today, January 23, in Oblates Mary Immaculate Cemetery, Tamontaka, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Shariff Kabunsuan. #