The Legacy of Fr. Tentorio Stays with the People

“While Gabriela Women’s Party grieves with the people, and the women and children of Arakan Valley who benefitted from the schools he helped build, and who were touched by the life of Fr. Fausto Tentorio, we are also demanding for justice not only for Fr. Tentorio, but for all the victims of extra-judicial killings and conflicts caused by social injustice,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus as hundreds of people in Mindanao and Manila march today to send Fr. Fausto to his final resting place.

“Fr. Tentorio represented the dreams of elusive peace of the marginalized people in Mindanao. But in his death, the perpetrators failed to kill him because he has already shared his life to hundreds of people who needed light in the midst of darkness and hopelessness in Mindanao. His death fanned the desire of the people to continue working harder for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao and the whole country,” added De Jesus.

“The way Fr. Pops was murdered unmasked the culture of impunity that has pervaded the country. And we will not be caught surprised if more advocates of the rights of the marginalized Filipinos will fall victims of militarization and extra-judicial killings until the roots of conflict --- landlessness, poverty and social injustice—are genuinely addressed,” ended De Jesus.