Bishop condemns slay;
calls for stop to mining
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Diocese of Bacolod yesterday condemned the murder of Italian missionary, Fr. Fausto Tentorio, who was gunned down in a church compound in Arakan town, North Cotabato, Monday, and called for a stop to mining in the Philippines.

“We strongly condemn to the highest level the brutal killing of Fr. Fausto Tentorio and we share with immense grief the loss of this staunch advocate of anti-mining activities and defender of indigenous people’s right,” Bishop Vicente Navarra said yesterday.

He said the Diocese of Bacolod is calling “for immediate justice to be served and the culprit be meted out punishment as demanded by the law.”

Bacolod Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia officially launched the 2012 MassKara Festival during the awarding of this year’s festival at the Bacolod City Public Plaza in what he called a “close-open” ceremony before more than 5,000 people who attended the activity last night.

The mayor also officially appointed Eli Francis Tajanlangit again as the festival director for 2012, and the Silver MassKara Festival Organization as the official organizer of next year’s Festival.

He said this year’s MassKara is bigger and more festive and the best so far, and he believes that over a million people came for the 19-day celebration.

The peace agreement between the government and the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa-Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade is now inching toward closure with the start of the profiling of its 346 members in Negros Occidental.

RPM-P-RPA-ABB leaders, military and police officials yesterday described it as a breakthrough after more than a decade of peace negotiations.

Victorino Sumulong, RPA-ABB spokesman, said the profiling is a prelude to the actual signing of a closure to the peace agreement.