Muslims join Christians in mourning ‘Fr. Popo

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY– Muslims joined Christians yesterday in mourning an Irish missionary gunned down by suspected Muslim secessionist rebels in what police described as a foiled kidnapping.

About 2,000 people, including many Muslims wearing traditional white mourning attire, packed the Immaculate Conception Church here for a funeral Mass for the Rev. Rufus Halley, who was killed Tuesday outside Malabang town in nearby Lanao del Sur.

Several Muslim women sat alongside Halley’s five brothers to share grief over the death of the 57-year-old missionary who was nicknamed "Popong" by locals.

"I also ask our people to pray for the killers of my brother," said a sobbing Gerry Halley, who arrived Friday night from Ireland for the burial.

"It’s unthinkable for Muslims to enter a Catholic church, but I think they forgot this just to see the priest they loved," Monsignor Edwin de la Peña said in his homily.

A message from John Paul II was read during the Mass.

"His Holiness is confident that his (Fr. Halley’s) memory will inspire those whom he served to ever greater fidelity to Christ and more intense commitment to the cause of peace.

Invoking the comforting gifts of the Holy Spirit upon all who mourn in the hope of resurrection, His Holiness commends Father Halley’s noble soul to our Heavenly Father’s mercy and love, and to all gathered for the solemn funeral rite, he cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessings as a pledge of strength and peace," the letter, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, said.

Some in the church wore white shirts printed with the words "Justice for Father Popong." Banners with similar slogans also were carried on vehicles outside.

One Muslim woman, Connie Balindong, wept during the funeral rites, saying she wanted quick action by the government to catch the killers.

"We have lost a man of peace, a man of love, a man of understanding, but his vision will continue. His legacy will neve die," said Balindong, who is principal of Our Lady of Peace High School ran by Fr. Halley.

"Popong has become one of us. As a foreigner he even speaks Maranao more fluently than other Maranaos. Popong shared our problems as a member of the community," she said.

Maranao is spoken by people in the Muslim-dominated town of Malabang where Halley was the parish priest of the minority Christians for 20 years.

Halley promoted Muslim-Christian dialogue in Malabang and nearby Balabagan town.

Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Development Paul Dominguez led government officials who attended the burial.

On Friday, hundreds lined Malabang streets to watch his cortege leave for Cagayan de Oro. Many tossed flowers at his funeral car.

"He was a wonderful human being, a person with a great sense of humor, with a great love for the people," said Father Donald Hogan, a classmate and townmate of Halley in Waterford, Ireland.

Gerard Halley, 57, thanked those who attended the service and said there was also a large support for the slain priest in his hometown for his work in peace and dialogue.

"We, in Ireland, also have the same problem like you here in Mindanao," he said.

Gerard’s other brothers — Walter, 58; Eamonn, 54; Emmett, 48; and John, 39 — arrived on two separate flights Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The slain priest was buried shortly before noon at the Divine Shepherd Memorial Park, his casket carried to his grave by his brothers and the Rev. Colom McKitting, the head of the Columban missionaries in the Philippines.

One of his brothers, Walter, placed a blue corsage, which was handmade by their mother, on top of the casket. Later dozens of men and women, most in tears, placed flowers on the casket before it was lowered to the ground.

Halley was driving his motorcycle home from Balabagan to his parish at the Our Lady of Peace church late Tuesday when gunmen in ski masks aboard a truck blocked his path near the remote village of Diamaro.

The gunmen tried to drag Halley into the truck but he managed to kick one who fell to the ground. He ran away but was shot several times by one of the attackers, Sumagayang Daing, police said quoting a suspect who was later arrested.

The suspect, Abdul Ibrahim, said the gunmen claimed to be members of the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front Muslim rebel group and paid him to drive the truck. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu has denied the claim. — With reports from Rey Arquiza, Edith Regalado