Spanish priest who escaped from Abu Sayyaf dies at 97

Fr. Bernardo Blanco —Photograph from CBCP Information

MANILA, Philippines — Spanish missionary priest Fr. Bernardo Blanco, who lived within the Philippines for practically 50 years and was held captive for over a month by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) whereas serving in Basilan in 1993, has handed away, in response to the Claretian Missionaries. He was 97.

The Claretian priest died at 1:02 a.m. on March 10 at Diliman Docs Hospital in Quezon Metropolis, his congregation introduced.

“We humbly ask you to recollect him in your prayers,” the Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province of the Claretian Missionaries stated in an obituary.

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Blanco’s wake might be held from March 11 to March 14 on the Immaculate Coronary heart of Mary Parish in UP Village, Quezon Metropolis. A funeral Mass might be held at 10 a.m. on March 15, adopted by his interment at Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park.

Blanco, who was ordained as a priest in 1953, arrived within the Philippines on Feb. 25, 1977, and was assigned to Bolong, Zamboanga Metropolis. He was later transferred to the Claretian Missions in Basilan, the place he served as parish priest of the Immaculate Coronary heart of Mary Parish in Maluso.

Kidnapped

Whereas driving to church on March 18, 1993, he was kidnapped initially by a breakaway group of the Moro Nationwide Liberation Entrance and finally turned over to the ASG.

“He endured 49 days of captivity earlier than bravely seizing a chance to flee, in the end regaining his freedom, an occasion that attracted worldwide consideration. His resilience and religion throughout this ordeal have been broadly acknowledged,” his congregation stated.

The Spanish priest attributed his escape to “the assistance of the Lord.” With a full moon guiding him, he stated he “ran and ran” by way of the forest till he reached a militia outpost.