A Year After the Murder of Fr. Cecilio Lucero, Still No Justice

We, of the National Clergy Discernment Group (NCDG), express our disgust that justice for the murder of Fr. Cecilio Lucero is not yet attained. We express our disappointment that after one year, nothing have come out of the investigation.

It was on Sept.6, 2009, an early Sunday morning, when some thirty heavily armed persons in ambush aimed their guns at Fr. Cecilio Lucero, a priest-minister of God and servant-minister of the people.

Fr. Cecilio Lucero was a Roman Catholic priest and pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish of Catubig, Samar in Eastern Visayas. His life and vocation mirrored his deep convictions as a disciple of Jesus and servant of the people. As an advocate of justice, peace and human rights, he headed the Catarman Diocesan Human Rights and Social Action Desk.

We condemn this utterly reprehensible act and grieve over the lengths human rights violators would pursue in order to quell the people’s aspirations for a full and abundant life.

As priests, we lead the ministry to proclaim and establish the reign of God amidst his people – a reign where justice is a reality and peace is the fruit of our labors. This is a prophetic ministry that priests share with all the faithful.

The life that Fr. Lucero chose is his way of living the prophetic witness he has received as a mandate from Jesus and the Church.

The death that Fr. Lucero was meted out with is the example of how much evil has incarnated in our midst. Both his life and death is an inspiration to all of us that justice is an eternal calling – a task that must be constantly acted upon and a gift that must be fervently cherished. We remember the heroism of Fr. Lucero and his dedicated service to the victims of human rights abuses.

We want justice to be served for Fr. Cecilio Lucero and all victims of extra judicial killings for that matter. We are asking the present administration to act swiftly on the case of Fr. Cecilio Lucero and other politically instigated killings of human rights defenders. Prosecute all human rights violators.

This is a clarion call for us to stand up and side with the people who pine for justice and peace. The death of Fr. Cecilio Lucero should not go in vain.