‘They’re killing the shepherds’: Archbishop Villegas laments killing of Nueva Ecija priest

MANILA, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, led by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, condemned in strongest terms the killing of Father Richmond Nilo at the hands of unknown assailants.

“They are killing our flock. They are killing us the shepherds. They are killing our faith. They are cursing our Church. They are killing God as they did in Cavalry,” the strongly worded statement released Monday night read.

Villegas and the other leaders of the archdiocese declared a Day of Reparation on June 18, nine days after the killing of Nilo, who served as the parish priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.

They asked parishes to toll bells at 6 p.m. on June 18 for 15 minutes in memory of the slain priest.

The clergy men also called on President Rodrigo Duterte to stop what they called “verbal persecution of the Catholic Church,” stressing such attacks can unwittingly encourage more crimes against priests.

Malacañang on Monday vowed it would prioritize investigation into Nilo’s death. It, however, said that the attacks of the chief executive against the Church have nothing to do with the killing of the priest.

Archbishop Romulo Valles, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president, also condemned what it called an “outrageously evil act” and appealed to the authorities to act swifly in the investigation.

Nilo was shot dead by unidentified gunmen as he was about to celebrate a mass inside the Nuestra Señora dela Nieve Chapel in Brgy. Mayamot, Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija last Sunday.

He was the third priest who was killed in a span of six months. Father Marcelito Paez was gunned down in Jaen, Nueva Ecija last December 4, while Father Mark Ventura was killed by armed men in Gattaran, Cagayan Province.

READ: Killing of priest ‘unchristian, un-Filipino’ — Cabanatuan bishop

Killing field

Villegas and other Church leaders also stressed that the country has become a killing field.

“They kill in the streets. They kill inside homes. They kill in tricycles and jeeps. They kill in the malls. They kill in the chapels,” they said.

The priests went on to ask their flock if this is the change that they want.

“Are you still clapping? Are you still laughing? You find it funny? You still think ‘Dapat lang?’ Are you still saying ‘Pagbigyan natin?’ Are you still saying our people feel safer now? Are you still saying this is the best government we ever had?” they asked.

The priests added: “Is this the change you want? Are these the changes you dream of? Are you still saying ‘There are some good things happening! Focus on the good?'"