Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) — A Claretian priest tortured and killed by the Abu Sayyaf could be the next saint from the Philippines.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines shared the message of Fr. Elias Ayuban, Jr., provincial superior of the Claretian Missionaries Philippine Province, on the launching of the Cause of Beatification of Fr. Rhoel Gallardo at San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church in Sumisip, Basilan province on May 3. It has been 21 years since the missionary was held captive and later on killed by the bandits.
“Martyrdom is a gift given to those who are worthy in the eyes of God. It could have occurred to any of us who were the young missionaries then, but it was given to Fr. Rhoel because, in hindsight, he was the most prepared to receive the crown,” Ayuban said.
He also emphasized “the four exemplary acts or series of acts of Fr. Rhoel that have made him a martyr of our times… He sacrificed, he suffered, he searched, and he surrendered.”
Ayuban said Gallardo’s life was a life of sacrifices and renunciations after the latter chose to volunteer and be assigned in Tumahubong, Basilan, which turned out to be his last assignment.
Calling him the “little Claret,” Ayuban added that the life of the likely saint was a constant search for God and his people and that it was filled by fervent prayer and simplicity.
He noted that during Gallardo’s 43-day captivity, he would ask about his fellow hostages who were female teachers after they were separated from each other despite being punished every time he did so.
“Finally, he surrendered, but never to the forces of evil. He surrendered to the hands of God. Accordingly, he was asked to renounce his faith, but he refused. Instead, he stood up for God who was faithful to him until the last drop of his blood,” Ayuban said.
Gallardo was born in Olongapo City, Zambales in 1965 and started his missionary life in a congregation in Zamboanga City.
On March 2000, he was held captive by the Abu Sayyaf, along with several teachers and students from the Claret School of Tumahubong. After an encounter between the group and government authorities, Gallardo was found dead with gunshot wounds and signs of torture, while other hostages were also killed by the bandits.
