Statement of Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Partido Liberal president, on the killing of Fr. Mark Ventura

Partido Liberal condemns the senseless killing of Catholic priest, Fr. Mark Ventura, who was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen in Gattaran, Cagayan on Sunday just after he celebrated Mass.

The brazen attack on the 37-year-old Fr. Ventura, known for his advocacy against mining and being of aid to indigenous peoples, has no place in our society and under this administration which boasts of prioritizing law and order and brags about reduced crime rates.

We call on the authorities to capture and prosecute Fr. Ventura's killers as soon as possible and not treat Fr. Ventura's death as just another death under investigation wherein perpetrators are never held accountable, as in the case of Fr. Marcelito Paez, who was also killed by unidentified gunmen in Jaen, Nueva Ecija five months ago in December 2017.

We hope that Fr. Ventura's death is not a reflection of our nation's character in light of the recent actions of the government against Sister Patricia Fox -- an aid worker for the past 27 years who has been ordered kicked out of the country on baseless claims that she is out to besmirch the government.