Case of murdered Samar priest still unsolved

A year has passed but justice remains elusive for a human rights advocate priest who was gunned down in Northern Samar province. In an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Monday, a group of Catholic priests expressed disappointment that up to now, the killers of Fr. Cecilio Lucero remain at large. “We express our disappointment that after one year, nothing have come out of the investigation," the National Clergy Discernment Group (NCDG) said in the article. “We condemn this utterly reprehensible act and grieve over lengths human rights violators would pursue in order to quell the people’s aspirations for a full and abundant life," the NCDG added. Some 30 unidentified armed men gunned down Lucero in an ambush while he was on his way to Catarman from his parish in Catubig in Northern Samar on September 6 last year. At the time, the victim was the head of the Catarman diocese’s human rights and social action desk. Investigation showed he was on board his van with two others when they were attacked. His companions, civilian Isidro Miras and police officer Eugene Bation, were wounded. The NCDG expressed “disgust" that justice for Lucero is not yet attained. NCDG co-convenor Fr. Jose Dizon said they want justice to be immediately served for Lucero and all victims of extrajudicial killings. “We are asking the present administration to act swiftly on the case of Fr. Lucero and other politically instigated killings of human rights defenders. Prosecute all human rights violators," he said. - KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV