Slain Priest in Samar to Receive Posthumous Award

MANILA, Sept 30, 2009-The Bishops of Samar Islands along with the local government units headed by Easter Samar Governor Ben Evardone have decided to give a posthumous award to the murdered priest, Fr. Cecilio Lucero.

Evardone said that this move to grant Lucero an award is a recognition and tribute to his involvement in creating peace and development in their province.

During the recently held 12th Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development (Sippad) headed by Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez and Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez, the two bishops and the participants of the forum have drafted a resolution for the award.

The group also issued a statement stating that the brutal and vile slaying such as that of Lucero had never happened even during the Martial Law, against any of the servants of the Church.

Lucero died last September 6 in Catubig, Northern Samar due to multiple gunshots in his body and head in an ambush by several unidentified men.

Before his death, Lucero was an active member of Sippad and the former chair of the Human Rights Desk of the Social Action Commission of the Catarman Diocese.

He also heads the Task Force on Peace and Order of the Northern Samar Peace and Development Forum.

According to Santiago Salas, spokesman of the National Democratic Front-Eastern Visayas, "Lucero was the 4th person to be extra-judicially executed in Northern Samar this year." (Kate Laceda)