By Gideon C. Corgue
DUMALINAO, Zamboanga del Sur – Rev. Fr. Nestor Remasog appealed to the public to keep calm, humbly
pursue the path of justice and work for peace.
In a requiem mass offered for the
slain special Action Force (SAF) members PSI Garry Erana and PI Rennie Tayrus
on Friday afternoon at the grounds of the municipal hall here, Fr. Remasog in
his homily said “crying for justice is crucial for the families of the slain
victims but [let us not] forget our Christian faith.”
Mayor Ace William Cerilles together
with municipal officials and employees, barangay officials, teachers, students,
religious leaders and others attended the mass. They wore black T-shirts, brought
flowers and lighted candles as a show of sympathy to the victims’ families.
Fr. Remasog, a native of this town:
“If we work for justice, we will also work for peace because peace and justice
are two inseparable concepts, and are two of the most cherished aspirations of
humankind.”
“If we do not know how to control
our anger and will take revenge on the perpetrators, it will be another reason
for war,” Remasog added.
The priest hoped that the incident
in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, which killed at least 44 SAF members would not
derail “our pursuit of peace especially the ongoing peace process between the
Philippine Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).”
He also encouraged the public to show “our
life of faith as Christians to shine brightly despite the crisis that we are
facing today.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Ace William Cerilles
said the death of our police officers –Erana and Tayrus – “is a great loss to
our country” adding “our people here regarded these bright and humble fallen
officers as our future police officers; Erana could have been our future general.”
Cerilles expressed his hope that
President Benigno Simeon Aquino III would take immediate and necessary actions
on the problem.
“I hope that President PNoy
will help the family of our fallen heroes to attain justice,” Cerilles said referring to conduct
of investigation of the liability of the officers who led the SAF operation and
the criminal liability of perpetrators.