The following is a statement from Bishop Gerardo Alimane Alminaza upon the riding-in-tandem killings of Guihulngan COVID-19 IATF Chair Dr. Sancelan, her husband, and of 50-year old Guihulngan resident Israel Alsong that occurred yesterday, December 15, 2020
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Join me in prayer in the face of unstoppable murders in our Diocese. Join me in hope that these killings will soon end. But join me, too, in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the senseless murder of helpless civilians and dedicated servants of government.
Let the Spiral of Violence End! Let there be Peace!
I thought it was a welcome news among us peace-loving Filipinos when we received the news of the release of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) document “Report on Preliminary Examination Activities 2020,” a step further in our collective desire to end the systematic and uncontrolled killings, as stated in the report “the Office anticipates reaching a decision on whether to seek authorisation to open an investigation into the situation in the Philippines in the first half of 2021.”
Suddenly, a few hours after the release of the ICC statement, assassins murdered Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan and her husband Edwin. It was brutal, marked by a desire to end the pro-people service of Dr. Sacelan to her constituents.
The Guihulngan City Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) immediately issued its official statement on the incident: “The Task Force reels from the courageous and dedicated frontliner who was instrumental in placing under control the previous spike of COVID-19 cases in the City last November… We are confused and in shock of this painful fate befalling our fellow public servants. Even now, we grapple to fill the gaping void Dr. Sancelan left in the service and in the Task Force.”
This is unwelcoming of the spirit of the Season of Christmas, very much like in the days towards Jesus’ birth, when Herod intended to kill the Savior.
Dr. Sancelan was branded, villified, red-tagged, and now, executed, by the ruthless pawns of the enablers of “systematic killings” in this country. Her only crime, much like the soon-to-be born-infant Jesus in a manger, was her unselfish service to the poor people of Guihulngan—both as a ‘barrio doctor’ and as “defender of the poor.” Dr. Sancelan’s life and her commitment to true government service deserved a worthy recognition. Sadly, the same government that was expected to recognize her dedication to government service, failed to protect her. If government cannot protect us, who else will? If government cannot protect us, how are we ordinary citizens to be expected to trust this government?
We therefore express our hope and prayer for a swift and determined investigation of her death and that of Edwin’s.
The unchristian actions of the killers remain “unsolved.” How long must we wait for a bloodless celebration of Christmas? Killings cannot bring about peace! Neither can it result in good governance.
Killings are unwelcome.
They are NOT what we need at this present time, especially, as we all are clutching at almost nothing with which to survive now and beyond the pandemic! Today, more than ever, the Filipino families do not deserve this senseless gift of violence. What we need today is the vaccine of peace! Let it be injected among the evildoers, among those who insist on the lie that comes forth from unclean lips–the lie that wants us to believe that we live in peace, even after the death of decency in government service.
It is indecent and unconscionable to endorse this wrong and ill-thought out form of justice.
How can we welcome Jesus in our hearts?
But we are resolved to welcome and embrace the Prince of Peace. Even as we speak out and demand consistently that justice be done, we still believe that the Prince of Peace deserves a place of ‘kahilwayan’ even when the murders continue to increase and appear unstoppable.
We will never get tired of finding a better and peaceful place for the Prince of Peace!
Justice for Dr. Mary Rose and Edwin!
Stop the Culture of Violence! End the Killings!
Let us welcome the Prince of Peace!
Paghimutad 