Palace: Govt ready to secure foreign missionaries under threat

Malacañang on Sunday said the government is ready to secure at least two more foreign missionaries who are reportedly being targeted for liquidation in Mindanao. But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said those being targeted may have to seek help from authorities so it can provide the necessary security. “We are ready to provide security kung may lalapit sa atin at kung nangangailangan ng ating tulong, handa tayo magbigay ng seguridad," she said on government-run dzRB radio. Earlier reports cited military sources who said at least two more foreign priests doing missionary work in Mindanao are reportedly targets for liquidation by unnamed groups. The reports quoted the sources as saying one is based the Zamboanga Peninsula while the other has a parish in Central Mindanao. Last Oct. 17, an unidentified gunman shot dead Italian missionary Fausto Tentorio in North Cotabato. The victim was a staunch environmentalist and pursued an advocacy against mining operations in North Cotabato. Tentorio was the third priest in their congregation — the Pontificio Instituto Missioni Estere (PIME or Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) — who was murdered in the Philippines after Father Tullio Favali and Father Salvatore Carzedda. Valte said in Tentorio’s case, the Philippine National Police has already formed a special investigation task group to get to the bottom of the case. On the other hand, Valte said the government understands the Italian government’s reported reiteration of its travel warning on Mindanao due to Tentorio’s killing. “We understand of course we respect decision of the Italian government ... We are taking steps to ensure the security of everyone who visits our country and we hope moving forward it can be revisited," she said. — KBK, GMA News