Mayor Randy Climaco of Tungawan town in Mindanao, seen in this undated photo, was assassinated Oct. 12, continuing a wave a election-related violence in the Philippines. (Photo courtesy of Father Larry Lorenzo)
We are torn by the great tragedy of the assassination / ambush of Mayor Randy Climaco on October 12, 2015 at Barangay Cayamcam, Tungawan, Zambonaga Sibugay. His death drew us to sad silence for he was a father to the community of Tungawan. He was a brother to us Claretians, because he was a claretian. His heart was like ours, for he was moved with the same fire of love for the people of Tungawan. His mission was one with us to create a better place to live and call Tungawan our home.
We are outraged, appalled and anguished by the barbaric assassination / ambush of Mayor Climaco. We have been to the ambush site and it was an act of no less than evil savagery of people without souls. It was pure evil. The bullet holes that riddled the car and his body show the hand of the devil in our midst. We condemn this senseless killing! We entrust our confidence to the authorities that the perpetrators will be gripped by the hands of law.
We exert pressure by our clamor through our prayers and sore our voices for shouts of justice. We call upon you who swore to protect us to investigate swiftly this heinous crime against the sacredness of life. We join the people of Tungawan in expressing our condolences to the families and friends of Mayor Randy Climaco and join in their hour of grief.
But we ask the people of Tungawan that in this times when emotions can easily flare up to hold fast to Jesus our Savior’s words “blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is God’s reign”(Mathew 5:9). To our beloved and esteemed brother Mayor Randy Climaco we know that you stand now close to Jesus, you will forever live in our hearts. Your death means that you will be immortalized in our continued commitment to build a better Tungawan for our children.
