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ZAMBALES READIES MARTYR’S WELCOME FOR SLAIN PRIEST

Castillejos, Zambales, May 7, 2000 His hometown is readying a martyr's welcome for Fr. Rhoel Gallardo's remains expected to arrive here tomorrow afternoon.

People in Castillejos consider the Catholic priest, who was tortured and killed by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf, as a martyr who died for his faith.

"In the wide scope of the meaning of martyrdom, he was indeed a martyr," Heny de la Paz, secretary of the chancery at the bishop's palace in Iba, Zambales told The Philippine STAR. "It was obvious that the Abu Sayyaf killed him because he was a Catholic priest."

De la Paz said Zambales Bishop Deogracias Yñiguez is set to celebrate Mass for Fr. Rhoel when the Castillejos-born priest's remains arrive tomorrow.

"The church in Iba is proud of him," De la Paz said. "He was committed to his faith."

Yñiguez said Castillejos residents thought it appropriate to welcome Fr. Rhoel's remains as that of a martyr's.

"They are expressing their gratitude (to Fr. Rhoel), especially those whose lives Fr. Rhoel touched from the days of his youth in this small town up to the time he was ordained as priest," he said.

The Sangguniang Bayan has passed a resolution honoring the slain priest's martyrdom and expressing the people's condolences to his bereaved family.

A marker will be placed at the San Nicolas Church in honor of the slain priest.

Gallardo's father, Domingo, 61, condemned the Abu Sayyaf for torturing and mercilessly killing his son.

"May this serve as a lesson to all and make us see the kind of atrocity these rebels could commit," he said.

Fr. Rhoel's mother, Raquel, 64, said she does not feel any hatred toward the Abu Sayyaf although she had heard in the news that the terrorists beat her son everyday and pulled the nails of his index fingers and toes.

"I just pray for their enlightenment and for the release of their (remaining) victims," she said. "Now we are resigned to his (Fr. Rhoel's) fate. He is now at peace."