CABANATUAN CITY – The Diocese of Cabanatuan on Sunday urged law enforcement agencies to deliver justice to slain Gen. Tinio Mayor Ferdinand Bote through fair and thorough investigation.
“Panatilihin din sana ng ating mga alagad ng batas ang kaayusan at seguridad ng ating mga pamayanan,” said Bishop Sofronio Bancud in a statement read during Masses on Sunday in connection with the assassination of Bote.
Bote was killed in broad daylight along the busy portion of Maharlika Highway, Barangay Accfa, some two to three meters away from the security personnel of the National Irrigation Administration -Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigattion System (NIA-UPPRIS).
Bancud noted that Bote was killed barely three weeks after Fr. Richmond Nilo, parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer, was gunned down right inside the chapel of Nuestra Señora dela Nieve in Barangay Mayamot, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.
“Tatlong linggo matapos maulila ang Parokya ng San Vicente Ferrer sa Zaragoza nang paslangin si Padre Richmond Nilo, ang munisipalidad ng Gen. Tinio naman ang nawalan ng ama ng bayan,” Bancud said.
He said hundreds of familied were orphaned by violence. “Gayundin naman, daandaang pamilya ang patuloy na nauulila sa ama’t ina at maraming mga magulang ang nawalan ng anak dahil sa putok ng baril,” the bishop who holds jurisdiction over the Gen. Tinio Parish added.
The Diocese also noted the prevailing culture of violence and expressed on concern over the police report that four people were killed by riding in tandem daily from Oct. 2017 to May 2018.
Bancud called on all Catholics and good-hearted people to keep peace and love in the community and their homes.
