Bishop calls for justice in beheading case

Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela in the troubled south of the Philippines has called for justice for a school principal, beheaded by his kidnappers, and said a long-term solution to the region´s problems must be found.

Bishop Martin Jumoad of Isabela

The bishop ruled out negotiations with those responsible. “If we dialogue with them, then it is as if we are saying it´s partly okay to do what you did,” he said over Church-run Radio Veritas 846.

Criminals must be “arrested right away,” the Church leader insisted. “Here in Basilan and in Sulu, the justice system is not that clear but the rule of law must prevail.”

Gabriel Canizares, principal of Kanague Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu, south of Basilan, was kidnapped on Oct. 19. His severed head was found in a truck at a gas station in Jolo town on Nov. 9. Abu Sayyaf extremists are believed responsible.

“We condemn the act because this is inhuman,” Bishop Jumoad said.

While favoring a tough response to the bandits, the bishop said he opposes the “all out war” that some military and public officials have suggested because many innocent people would be hurt.

He said police needed to be “more visible” in Basilan and Sulu where the Abu Sayyaf thrives. Villagers, whether Muslim or Christian, must play a role too and cooperate with the authorities. “We must be vigilant and help detect unusual groups of people,” the bishop said.

But longer term solutions to the root causes of the violence need to be found.

The national government has to “give more livelihood programs … in rural areas,” he stressed. Many youths “have no desire to go to school because there are no opportunities.”

Money appears to have been the motive in the Canizares case. His kidnappers had demanded a 2 million-peso (US$42,600) ransom, but had reduced this to 1 million after negotiating with the principal´s relatives, military spokesperson Major General Ben Dolorfino said.

Meanwhile, kidnappers are still holding Irish Columban Father Michael Sinnott.

He was snatched by armed men from his order´s house in Pagadian City, northeast of Sulu. The kidnappers, who have demanded US$2 million in ransom, are believed to be holding the priest between Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur provinces further northeast from Sulu.

A splinter group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has been accused of the crime.

In Jolo, Christian and Muslim teachers in public and Catholic schools plan to demonstrate on Nov. 11 at the memorial service for Canizares.

Jeff Sampang, of the Catholic radio station DXMM, says many more kidnappings have gone unreported in the province. Families simply paid the ransom demanded.