HONG KONG (SE): The beatification cause of Servant of God, Father Rhoel Gallardo, a Claretian missionary, is being prepared by the Prelature of Isabela, on the southern Philippine island of Basilan.
The Abu Sayyaf terrorist group kidnapped the 33-year-old Father Gallardo from St. Vincent Ferrer parish in Tumahubong, along with with school officials and children on 20 March 2000. He and three other captives were killed on May 3 as a military rescue operation closed in on them (Sunday Examiner, 20 January 2008). There were signs that torture was inflicted.
Bishop Leo Dalmao of Isabela, himself a Claretian, formally opened the cause of martyrdom on May 3, the 21st anniversary of the priest’s death during Mass at San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church in Tumahubong, CBCP News reported on April 30.
Father Krzyszt of Gierat, the general postulator for the Causes of Saints of the Claretians, will serve as postulator, with Father Efren Limpo as vice postulator.
The month and a half-long hostage crisis were also days of heroism for Father Gallardo. Witnesses said he would always look out for the female teachers when they were separated from other captives.
His concern irked the terrorists who punched and kicked him until he was badly bruised.
Survivors also recalled how the priest encouraged them to not to lose hope and pray the rosary. They would do so discretely as their captors prohibited them from praying, even forcing them to denounce Christianity, CBCP News reported.
Father Gallardo was born in 1965, in Olongapo City, in Zambales province on the northern island of Luzon. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1994 and, a few years later, volunteered to go to Tumahubong, where he was the director of the Claret School and parish priest.
