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PIME Missionary: Fr. Tentorio, father, brother and friend to thousands of voiceless tribals
Fr. Giulio Mariani, a PIME priest in Zamboanga, recalls the murdered missionary. His brothers called him the "tribal". The hand of businesses interested in the natives’ land for mining suspected behind his death.
Zamboanga (AsiaNews) - "A simple man, humble, jovial, a father and a friend for thousands of voiceless tribals from the Diocese of Kidapawan. His death shocked us ". This is what Fr Giulio Mariani, a missionary of the Pontifical Foreign Missions (PIME) in Zamboanga tells AsiaNews, a colleague and personal friend of Fr. Fausto Tentorio killed this morning in Arakan (North Cotabato - Mindanao).
Fr. Mariani stresses the goodness and kindness of the missionary, eight years at the forefront of the defense and the evangelization of the tribal peoples. "Fr. Fausto carried out his mission with discretion and simplicity. We called him the 'tribal' - he says - because he always wore a colorful bandana and never parted from the necklaces and bracelets he wore, typical of the natives. "
The priest says that currently no one knows exactly who killed Fr. Fausto or why a man who always worked with discretion and humility was targeted. However, local sources tell AsiaNews that for years mining companies, interest in the land of the natives, and the military saw him as an uncomfortable person. In 2003 the military had tried to kill him, accusing him of collaborating with the guerrillas of the Maoist New People's Army. On that occasion, the tribals had acted as a human shield, saving his life. (Sc)
For the video interview with Fr. Tentorio, created by the non-profit organization PIME Foundation, click here.