MANILA/ZAMBOANGA CITY, 19 January 2008 — Pope Benedict XVI has commended the good work of Fr. Jesus Reynaldo Roda, the priest who was killed in the southern Philippine province of Tawi-Tawi earlier this week.

The pope has extended his condolences to those who mourn his loss in a message sent to Bishop Angelito Lampon of the Apostolic Vicariate of Jolo, through the Papal Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Bertone said the pope was “saddened to learn of the brutal and tragic killing of Father Jesus Reynaldo Roda, a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) congregation and director of the Notre Dame school in the island town of Tabawan. He was to turn 54 next month.

The pope has called for the perpetrators of Roda’s murder to renounce their violent ways and to contribute in building a just and peaceful society. He has given his blessing to the people of Tabawan as a “pledge of comfort and strength at this time of sorrow.”

Police and church officials said Roda was killed outside a convent at the Notre Dame High School compound during a kidnapping attempt by suspected Abu Sayyaf militants last Tuesday.

Villagers, who tried but failed to rescue the priest, said Roda was praying when about 10 gunmen seized him and dragged him outside the chapel.

Policemen who rushed to the school said the gunmen were holding captive Omar Taup, a teacher at Notre Dame, and fisherman Hussin Sahirul, who they seized as they fled.

Supt. Wainwright Taup, the police director of Tawi-Tawi, said dozens of policemen and Marines were tracking down the gunmen believed to be hiding on one of the small islands bordering the island-provinces of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.

“There was a firefight and Fr. Roda was resisting the kidnappers and he was shot and killed,” Fr. Rito Daquipil, head of the OMI mission in Tawi-Tawi province told Arab News.

He said the priest’s hands were tied when his body was recovered slumped outside his convent.

“We are all sad. Father Roda was a good man and loved by everybody. He was there doing missionary works with our Muslim brothers and sisters for the past ten years,” Daquipil said.

Roda’s demise drew Muslims and Christians alike in Tawi-Tawi , where he is well known for his humanitarian work.

“Father Roda was well loved because he was so kind. In fact, he built a mosque for Muslim students on the Notre Dame (campus),” said Aleem Abdulwahid Inju, head of the Darul Ifta (House of Opinion) in Tawi-Tawi.

The OMI runs not only the Notre Dame school but also community outreach humanitarian projects, including money-lending for the livelihood of Samah and Tausug fisherfolk. Inju said it was not certain if the Abu Sayyaf was behind the murder, as believed.

“There was no reason to kill Father Roda,” Inju said. “Allah is not happy with this incident. The police must find and prosecute his killers.”

Roda’s body was transported by helicopter to Zamboanga City on Friday, and is to be brought to Cotabato City today. It is scheduled for burial at the OMI cemetery in nearby Shariff Kabunsuan province on Jan. 23. (With input from Inquirer News Service & Agencies)