Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos lamented the murder of Guihulngan city health officer Mary Rose Sancelan and her husband Edwin, calling it an act of unwelcoming spirit of the Christmas season.
In a statement over the weekend, the bishop called on the faithful to condemn the brutal killing of the couple by motorcycle-riding suspects on Dec. 15.
“Dr. Sancelan was branded, vilified, red-tagged, and now, executed, by the ruthless pawns of the enablers of ‘systematic killings’ happening in the country. Her only crime, much like the soon-to-be born-infant Jesus in a manger, was her unselfish service to the poor people of Guihulngan – both as a ‘barrio doctor’ and a ‘defender of the poor’,” Alminaza said.
He also said that Sancelan’s life and commitment to true government service deserves a worthy recognition, adding that the diocese expresses hope and prayer for a swift and determined investigation.
The Guihulngan City Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) said in a statement that “the task force reels from the courageous and dedicated frontliner, who was instrumental in placing under control the spike of Covid-19 cases in the city last November”.
“We are confused and in shock of this painful fate befalling our fellow public servants. Even now, we grapple to fill the gaping void Dr. Sancelan left in the service and in the task force,” it added.
Meanwhile, Karapatan-Negros said it is “very alarming” that the head of the City Health Office and the IATF was not spared from the spate of killings in the city.
The Sancelan couple will be buried on Dec. 22.
Groups from the church and militant organizations will join online rallies during the burial to call on authorities to launch a thorough investigation of the twin killings.
Last Friday, the Guihulngan city government offered a reward money of P500,000 for the identification and arrest of the perpetrators.
City Administrator Karen Lisette Molas said the amount is similar to those previously offered by the city government involving the series of killings in Guihulngan since 2017.
The Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office has formed a special investigation task group to lead the probe in the killing of Sancelan couple. – MML/GB
