Naniniwala si Senator Risa Hontiveros na hindi “nagkataon” lang ang magkakasunod na pamamaslang sa tatlong pari sa bansa, gaya ng sinabi ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III, na kumontra sa plano niyang paimbestigahan ito.

“I call on Senate President Sotto to reconsider his take on this matter. The Catholic Church and the millions of Catholic faithful demand that we take action. This early, I would like to thank Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order, for agreeing to hear this grave issue. I hope that my fellow Senators will follow suit and support the proposed inquiry,” ani Hontiveros.

“Once is an unfortunate random event. Twice could be a coincidence. Thrice is a pattern,” dagdag pa ng senadora.

Ikinasa nitong Miyerkules ni Hontiveros ang Senate Resolution No. 764 para paimbestigahan sa Senate committee on public order ang pagpatay kina Fr. Richmond Nilo, Fr. Mark Ventura, at Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez, gayundin ang pamamaril kay Fr. Rey Urmeneta ng Calamba, Laguna.

“With all due respect to the Senate President, but I think the killings are continuing and too similar to be dismissed as mere coincidence. There is clearly a pattern. First, the killings come on the heels of President Duterte’s continued verbal attacks on the Catholic Church. Second, the three killed priests were vocal critics of state abuses. Third, they were killed in just the span of six months, with the two murdered while conducting religious services,” sabi pa ni Hontiveros.

-Leonel M. Abasola