Sulu remembers death of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus

Sulu Governor Totoh Tan leads officials in commemorating the 18th anniversary of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus’ death in Jolo town. Sulu Bishop Angelito Lampon welcomed Governor Tan and other officials. (Photos by Franzie Sali)

SULU – Government officials and religious leaders and representatives from various sectors in the southern Philippine province of Sulu commemorated the 18^th death anniversary of Bishop Benjamin de Jesus.

Governor Totoh Tan and Vice Governor Sakur Tan led provincial and municipal officials in the commemoration held at the Notre Dame of Jolo College. Both officials remembered the bishop as a “man of peace, mercy and compassion.”

Sulu Bishop Angelito Lampon welcomed Governor Tan and other officials. Bishop Lampon also led the mass during the commemoration. Locals also held a peace march in Jolo town.

Bishop De Jesus was killed by a lone Abu Sayyaf assassin outside the Cathedral in Jolo town in 1997, a few months short of his 57th birthday.

Governor Tan, in his speech before a huge crowd of people who joined the solemn event, called the assassination as a “dastardly act” and said the death of the bishop adds to the pressing need to search for peace and an end to senseless killings in Sulu and other parts of the country.

“It is indeed difficult to comprehend and understand on how a man who in his entire life is advocating love, peace and harmony could suddenly die a violent death. Si Bishop Ben ay hindi nag-iisa sa hanay ng mga nilalang na sa hangarin makapagbunsod ng katahimikan at pagmamahalan ay siya pang nabawian ng buhay sa madugong pamamaraan,” he said.

Governor Tan likened the bishop’s peace mission as that of Indira Gandhi and Martin Luther King. “Si Gandhi, ang ama ng India, ay kilala sa adbokasya niya ng non-violence o hindi paggamit ng dahas sa pakikibaka niya upang mabigyan ng dangal at kalayaan ang India, ay ganoon din ang sinapit sa kamay ng isang assassin. Si Reverend Martin Luther King na ama ng Civil Liberties sa Amerika ay humantong din sa madugong kamatayan,” he said.

He said as a man of God, the bishop knew that the battle between good and evil is never-ending and in every battle there are always those who are offered as sacrifices for the common good.

“Sulu is indeed fortunate that a man of Bishop Ben’s stature walked on its soil and served the people in the name of love and brotherhood, bridging the different faiths in harmonious relationships. He was one of the many lambs offered in sacrifice in the altar of love, peace, harmony and goodwill,” Governor Tan said. (Franzie Sali)

Like Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindanaoexaminer
Follow Us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindanaoExamine
Read Our News on: http://www.mindanaoexaminer.com/and https://mindanaoexaminer.com/
Share The News