Father Jesus Reynaldo Roda would have been celebrating Mass today in Tawi-Tawi. Instead his relatives and friends are mourning the murder of the priest – the latest in a long line of Church workers who have been kidnapped, tortured and killed, often in gruesome ways, in the lawless areas of Mindanao.
A teacher, Omar Taub, is still missing. Security forces believe Roda was killed when he resisted the kidnappers who barged into the convent of Notre Dame School in Tabawan last Tuesday. The gunmen, believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf, took Taub with them as they fled. Roda’s friends said he had received death threats prior to the raid.
The attack should strengthen the resolve of government forces to finish off the Abu Sayyaf and all the other lawless elements who have set back development and peace in the neglected areas of Mindanao, particularly Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan.
The Abu Sayyaf has long targeted churches for bomb attacks. The group, which is working with the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network, also targets teachers, priests, nuns and other religious workers for kidnapping, torture and murder, which often involves mutilation and decapitation. Security forces in Mindanao said four Italian priests are also currently facing death threats.
Missionaries are trained to work in difficult circumstances and often ignore risks to their personal safety. In many neglected parts of the country, they are the only ones who provide comfort, aid and even education to the needy. Their courage and perseverance in carrying out their mission should be matched by the dedication of government troops in eliminating the scourge of extremism.
Military officers said they intend to stamp out the Abu Sayyaf threat within this year. This need not be an idle boast. The military has scored numerous victories against the Abu Sayyaf in the past two years, eliminating its top commanders including chieftain Khadaffy Janjalani and spokesman Abu Solaiman. The military should not lose the momentum. Fr. Reynaldo Roda’s death should not be in vain.