MANILA, July 10, 2009─Cotabato Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI deplored the recent bombing in Cotabato City that left several people dead and wounded others, saying that the dastardly act "is a heinous crime that cries out to heaven."
"In strongest terms, I condemn this inhuman and unconscionable act of murder so senseless and so indiscriminate," said the prelate.
In a statement released today and coursed through The Mindanao Cross, the prelate said the July 5 bombing was perpetrated "with criminal intent," as the bomb was planted and exploded in "a public place, killing, maiming, and mutilating!"
The bombing took place "across a sacred place and on a sacred day when hundreds of people gathered to worship our God of Peace and Love, our God who commanded, 'Thou shalt not kill.'"
The statement titled "I Share the Grief of our People and Express their Righteous Demand for Justice," was released in time for the city's "Day of Mourning."
The prelate said all religions he knows of "abhor such violence" because "no motive, political or economic or ideological, can ever justify such killings."
He appealed to local, regional and national leaders "to expedite the identification, arrest, and detention of the perpetrators" as he asked for "the full force of the law to be applied justly on them."
The archbishop also said he is praying that "such murderers would return to their right conscience and turn away from such crimes."
He called on politicians and political groups and members of civil society to "refrain from unfounded speculations in order to gain political and ideological leverage" because "exploiting the tragedy and grief of families whose members were victims of horrendous crime is certainly insensitive and irresponsible."
Quevedo said they are celebrating Holy Mass today to express their grief and solidarity with all the victims and to pray for peace.
"Through this Holy Mass that makes present the sacrifice of Jesus, our Savior, on the Cross, we take into our hearts the grief of families of victims," he said, adding that they are in solidarity with the affected families.
"We pray for the cessation of conflict and violence" as "we pray that dialogue for peace could take place and that the thousands of people languishing in evacuation camps could return safely to their homes," he added.
He emphasized only respectful dialogue that "responds to the root cause of violence and injustice can bear the fruit of lasting peace in our society." He also asked the faithful to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured as "we pray for the eternal repose of the souls of those who were murdered "we grieve deeply and ask the Lord for comfort and strength."
The former CBCP President and now secretary general of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences said they commit themselves to pray and work for peace "in the many little ways that we can, individually and communally," as he appealed to everyone to do the same.
"Finally, we entrust our hopes and efforts for peace into the hands of our God of Peace, that he, in his eternal wisdom, may grant our fervent prayer," the 70-year old prelate concluded.
It will be recalled that five persons died and over 30 others were wounded when a bomb exploded few meters away from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral at the heart of Cotabato City on July 5, while mass was going on.
The authorities have yet to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for the incident. (Melo M. Acuna)