ILOILO CITY - Catholic Bishops of the Conference of the Philippines president and Jaro Archbishop, Angel Lagdameo, yesterday welcomed the release of Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi.

"We welcome with joy and gratitude the release of the missionary, Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, by his abductors. For many weeks, in behalf of his relatives and community, many people prayed and appealed for mercy and compassion for Fr. Bossi," said Lagdameo in a brief statement.

Lagdameo expressed appreciation to those who facilitated the release of the priest who was held in captivity for weeks

. The prelate said foreign missionaries like Bossi are giving "a great service to the people in far-flung corners of the country, especially in Mindanao, at great sacrifice and even dangers." Lagdameo said he hopes what happened to Bossi will not be repeated.

He also condemned the "barbaric and bloody ambush" that led to the death of 14 Marines who were part of a search operation for Bossi. "We condemn such heinous act, and join the appeal for justice in the restoration of peace. Let the same not happen again in our society of already precarious peace," Lagdameo said.

"We recognize in the incidence the elements of peace-making and peace giving, from which we can try to move on," the prelate said.*NPB *** Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy yesterday said the families of 14 Marines who were searching for o Bossi and were killed in Basilan on July 10, are expected to receive P100,000 in financial assistance from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

This is on top of the P65,000 burial assistance from the Philippine Navy and Philippine Marine Mutual Special Financial Assistance to each of the 14 slain Marines, according to Navy spokesman Ariel Caculitan.

Cpl. Emelio Lachica Jr., a resident of Brgy. Pinaguinpinan, Kabankalan City, was killed with 13 other government troopers in an ambush allegedly perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf bandit group in Tipo-Tipo town, Basilan, on July 10. He was among the 10 of the 14 slain Marine troopers who were beheaded.

The remains of Lachica will be buried at noon of July 22, at the Rolling Hills Memorial Park in Bacolod City, with full military honors. The Marines were on their way back to their base after an unproductive search for Bossi when they were waylaid by at least 300 bandits. Bossi was released by his abductors on Thursday night in Lanao del Norte.*GPB

back to top