Indon envoy seeks justice for slain priest

Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines has expressed optimism the killing of Roman Catholic priest Fransiskus Madhu, an Indonesian national, on Palm Sunday in a remote village in Kalinga province would be given justice.

"We are hopeful the Philippine government will soon conclude the whole investigation on this senseless murder," Ambassador Dr. Irzan Tanjung told mourners during Madhu’s funeral last Monday.

Madhu, a native of Flores, Indonesia, was about to say Palm Sunday Mass when he was shot dead.

But Tanjung could not help but sympathize with family and friends of the Society of Divine Word missionary, whom he said "had full dedication, motivation and loyalty in serving all people he fondly loved and cared for."

"I am very saddened to learn that Father Madhu’s precious life ended by an act of ruthless murder. This is unthinkable and unacceptable on the basis of humanitarian cause," Tanjung lamented.

He concluded his message by quoting from the Bible: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they’re doing."

Madhu’s funeral, organized by Christ the King Mission Seminary in Tabuk diocese, was attended by over a hundred priests, Catholic missionaries and Muslim leaders.

Tabuk Bishop Prudencio Andaya described the Palm Sunday murder at a public school in Barangay Mabungtot, Labuagan, Kalinga as a "shattering experience to all of us."

"Children, men and women of the village gathered around the improvised altar, witnessed the incident. Initial investigations revealed Fr. Fransis never had any argument with anybody before the incident nor did he preach anything against the sensitivities of the barrio folks, for he was another victim of sheer criminality," Andaya said.

The bishop, however, acknowledged efforts of local authorities to hunt down the suspect. Still, he appealed to immediate relatives to convince the killer to surrender.

"We condemn the killing as savage and inhuman and we are deeply hurt as taking someone else’s life is utterly un-Christian as our hearts cry out for justice for an innocent man," he added.