File photo of Fr. Rene Regalado, a priest at the archdiocese of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon. Unknown assailants gunned him down on Sunday evening (January 25, 2021).
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – A group of peace advocates composed of church leaders condemned Monday the killing of a Roman Catholic priest in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, on Sunday evening.
Unknown assailants gunned down Fr. Rene Regalado, a priest at the archdiocese of Malaybalay.
Police said Regalado was found lifeless next to his vehicle near the Carmelite Monastery in Sitio Pal-ing, Barangay Patpat, Malaybalay City.
Regalado was on his way to St. John XXIII Seminary, where he was staying.
In a statement, Sowing the Seeds of Peace denounced Regalado's death, including the killing of lawyer Winston Intong, who was gunned down in Malaybalay on January 14.
“The killing of a priest, and recently, a lawyer, means the level of impunity in our society has reached a deplorable level,” said Bishop Felixberto Calang, an Iglesia Filipina Independiente official and co-convenor of Sowing the Seeds of Peace.
Lt. Col. Jerry Tambis, Malaybalay city police chief, said the victim succumbed to gunshot wounds on the head and that his body was found some three meters away from his vehicle.
In a phone interview, Capt. Jiselle Ester Lou Longakit, Bukidnon provincial police spokesperson, said Regalado's previous assignment was in Lala town, Lanao del Norte. He arrived in the Malaybalay diocese in December last year.
Tambis said the victim had no parish assignment yet and took up residence at the monastery.
In an official statement, Fr. Virgilio Delfin, the diocese spokesperson, said they are “deeply wounded and saddened” with Regalado’s death.
Delfin noted that hours before he was killed, Regalado informed his colleagues that he was meeting someone.
“We request everyone to offer prayers… for the immediate results of the investigation, and that justice will be served to whom it is due,” he said. (PNA)
