IFI priest terrorized?
Iloilo -- A priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was reportedly put under surveillance by four unidentified persons at the height of the rallies commemorating the International Women's Day on March 8, 2006.
The helper of Rev. Fr. Marco Sulayao at the IFI church in Banate, Iloilo reported that on March 9, 2006, at around 3:00 a.m. a vehicle stopped and parked at the side of the church which is located along the highway.
The helper peeped at the window and he saw 2 bonnet-wearing men who attempted to open the door of the parish rectory while another 2 men who were also wearing bonnets were standing near the mahogany tree in front of the rectory.
The helper alleged the four persons were all wearing fatigue jackets and maong pants. They stood 5'6"-5'7" tall and were heavily built.
The two men were not able to open the door . They moved to the window of Fr. Sulayao's room and peeped in but saw nobody there. They left after a few minutes.
The helper allegedly saw them clearly as there was a streetlight and the men did not bother to station themselves in the shadows. The car later on left towards the direction of Anilao.
Fr. Sulayao was not in the rectory as he did not proceed to Banate as he earlier planned to do after the March 8 march-rally in the city of Iloilo. He only learned of the attempted break-in at around 9:00 in the morning upon his arrival in Banate.
BAYAN Panay in a statement strongly condemned the attempted break-in at the Banate IFI Rectory.
It said this is the latest incident in the series of harassments against Fr. Marco Sulayao, IFI which began two years ago with the KEPCO issue.
The group believes Sulayao is a victim of terrorism.
Fr. Sulayao, IFI is the General Secretary of Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) and the National Governor of IFI's National Priests Organization (NPO). He is often seen and heard at marches and rallies against the anti-people policies of the Arroyo administration, a vocal critic of Mrs. Arroyo, and is often interviewed on television and over the radio.