SPECIAL REPORT: Kidnapping of catholic missionaries, nothing religious or political

MANILA, November 22, 2009— It’s not only foreign missionaries who get kidnapped in the Philippines. Even local contemplative sisters have experienced being kidnapped. The first recorded kidnapping of a religious was in Marawi City in 1986.

Despite the series of kidnapping which mostly happened in southern Philippines, most congregations have opted to stay in their mission areas and perform their regular duties.

Fr. Patrick O’Donoghue, the regional director (superior) of the Missionary Society of St. Columban said despite the recent kidnapping of 79-year old Fr. Michael Sinnott, they will still continue their work in the rural areas.

“We appreciate the statement of the Missionary Society of St. Columban in the Philippines, they will not back-out from their mission assignments in southern Philippines despite of what happened to one of their confreres Fr. Michael Sinnott,” thus said Fr. Victor Diolata, Jr., co-executive secretary of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP).

In an interview with CBCPNews, Fr. Diolata said missionaries are expected to take extreme caution in the performance of their duties in critical areas.

He however added that the religious congregations are in close coordination with their bishops for more effective working relations.

“The government’s police and military elements are expected to protect the general public, including Filipino and foreign religious missionaries from lawless elements,” he added.

Fr. Diolata said there are 270 congregations of religious women and 96 congregations of religious men that are members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines.

“The religious congregations run schools, parishes, hospitals, charitable institutions and media outlets and could be found in almost all dioceses across the country,” he added.

From 1986 onwards

French missionary Father Michel de Gigord was kidnapped at the MSU campus in June 1986 and was released three weeks later. He left the Philippines in 2001 and settled in France.

Fr, Michael Sinnott, now 79 years old, said it was Fr. de Gigord’s kidnapping that made them decide as a group “that nobody would ever pay ransom.”

It was on a Friday, July 11, 1986 when nine Carmelite contemplative sisters were kidnapped from their hilltop monastery, some three kilometers outside Marawi City by almost 50 Muslim rebels.

It was not only the Columbans who have been victims of violent incidents in the Philippines. Claretians, PIME and an SVD missionary have been victims of abduction.

“Three PIME missionaries have been pulled out of their mission assignments due to the repression during the Martial Law years,” Fr. Gianbattista Sandalo told CBCPNews.

Missionaries from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions known as PIME, have been witnesses and victims of heinous crimes. Italian Missionary Tulio Favali was killed in Tulunan, Cotabato was killed in April 11, 1985. His killers have been identified and been meted long prison terms. They have been released and restorative justice has taken place.

Fr. Salvator Carzetta, an active convenor of inter-religious dialogue was shot dead in Zamboanga City in May 20, 1992.

However, Fr. Luciano Benedetti was kidnapped by armed men in September 8, 1998 in Zamboanga Del Norte. He was released on November 16 of the same year.

Still another PIME missionary Giancarlo Bossi was on his way to Mass last June 10, 2007 in Zamboanga Sibugay when kidnapped by Moro guerillas. He was released after 39 days.

Franciscan Brother Augustin Frazczak was freed on December 30, 1992 after more than two months in captivity. He was released after Church authorities consistently refused ransom demands.

Claretian Missionary Fr. Bernardo Blanco was driving to his parish in Matarling, Basilan in March 18, 1993 when gunmen abducted him. He was released after 48 days in captivity.

Abu Sayyaf bandits waylaid a bus and two jeepneys in Basilan province and seized some 59 people including diocesan clergyman Fr. Cirilo Nacorda and 13 teachers. Fr. Nacorda was released after 61 days.

Fr. Desmond Hartford, then vicar general of Marawi and Filipino priest Fr. Phil Quibranza were abducted in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte on October 27, 1997. Fr. Quibranza was released to relay the kidnappers demand. Fr. Hartford, a Columban, was released after 11 days.

It was also reported that Belgian Missionary Bernard Maes, who was on his way home from a farewell party for Fr. Hartford when four armed men abducted him in front of a church in Marawi. The armed men were believed to be former Moro National Liberation Front members released him after two days.

Claretian missionary Fr. Rhoel Gallardo and more than 50 students and teachers were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf bandits on March 20, 2000. While most of the hostages were released, Fr. Gallardo and three other teachers were killed.

Columban Fr. Rufus Halley was shot dead in Malabang, Lanao del Sur while resisting a kidnap attempt.

Fr. Guiseppe Pierantoni, a Sacred Heart missionary, was abducted by armed men immediately after saying Mass in Dimataling, Zamboanga del Sur on October 17, 2001. He was released on April 8, 2002.

A member of the Society of the Divine Word, an Indonesian from Flores Island, Fr. Franciskus Madhu was shot dead by armed men while waiting to celebrate Passion Sunday Mass in Nabongtot, Labuagan, Tabuk.

Stratfor a foreign-based think-tank is of the opinion that the series of kidnappings involving missionaries in the Philippines for years have been made for monetary rather than political or religious reasons, “although they often attempt to use a veneer of ideology to justify their actions.”

It’s Money that matters

Stratfor added “In negotiating kidnapping cases, however, Christian organizations have long resisted even the suggestion that they remove missionaries from a region or country.”

Fr. Giancarlo Bossi, interviewed immediately after his release in 2007 told CBCPNews his captors didn’t have any ideology at all.

“They just followed orders from someone they call ‘Sir’ who regularly calls them on mobile phone,” Fr. Bossi said. He added it appeared his abductors were simply after money.

Fr. Sinnott said his abductors told him that Fr. Pierantoni’s kidnappers in 2001 received P 10 million but some other persons in authority received much more.

“I was just quoting my captors,” Fr. Mick said.

Fr. Michael Sinnott, released recently from captivity after 31 days in the hinterlands of southern Philippines, still plans to return to his mission station in Pagadian City to resume his work among differently-abled children. (Melo M. Acuña)

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