Tawi-Tawi schoolchildren honor slain priest

To honor Father Reynaldo Roda, the Notre Dame of Tabawan High School in Tawi-Tawi will remain closed until Wednesday, the day the slain priest is scheduled to be laid to rest. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said parents, students and teachers from Tawi-Tawi will arrive in Cotabato City on Tuesday to pay their last respects to Roda. Fr. Ramon Ma. Bernabe, Oblates of Mary Imaculate provincial superior, said the congregation will continue to run the school in Tawi-Tawi. Roda was shot dead last week. Authorities are still looking for the assailants. Bernabe said they will bring Roda’s remains to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Cotabato City Tuesday for an overnight vigil. Delegations from Kidapawan, Maguindanao, and Tawi-tawi are expected to arrive for the funeral Mass to be led by Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Cotabato Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Collin Bagaforo and San Jose de Antique Bishop Romulo dela Cruz will concelebrate the mass with other missionaries. Roda will be laid to rest at the Oblates cemetery at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Cotabato City. The Armed Forces earlier identified a certain Asman Sabadyaan, said to be a sub-commander of the Abu Sayyaf, Asman Jakwaajan, and a certain "Murphy," as Roda's killers. Authorities were also looking for Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahili's bodyguard, reportedly a follower of Jakwaajan. - GMANews.TV