Tulio Favali, Prophet And Priest
Document Title: Tulio Favali, Prophet And Priest
Document Ref No: R9502211
First Published: TBA
Publication Date: 21st February 1995
Author's Name: Father Shay Cullen SSC
The murder of Father Tulio Favali by a gang of CHDF killers led by Norberto Manero in 1985 was brutal and vicious. Not only was this brave and dedicated priest murdered for helping Filipinos who were illegally imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the Marcos regime but his skull was crushed and his killers reportedly ate his brains in a cannibalistic gesture of triumph. This gruesome crime went unpunished for years because Manero had powerful political paymasters in Cotobato. A few years ago during a visit of President Ramos to Cotobato Manero was seen around the entourage as a hanger-on of some local trapo. He was well connected and was able to come and go from prison like other well known convicted killers.
Manero, like some members of the Civilian Home Defense Forces (CHDF) recruited during that period were guns for hire and known hit men of politicians or criminals. These politicians asked themselves why should they pay for guns, bodyguards and hit men or a private army to get rid of their opponents and risk the possibility of being charged with murder when their men could be armed and paid for by the tax payer and ki ll their political enemies officially. All they had to do was to use their connections and well placed bribes and the local general would order a unit of CHDF to be set up in their area. The uniform of the CHDF gave their private armies guns, legitimacy and mission orders to hunt and kill anyone suspected of being critical or subversive. The anti-communist fever was so stirred up wearing a red shirt or scarf was dangerous. Left handed people were feeling suspect anybody suspected were branded by the cold merchants of death and killed like dogs as was Father Favali.
In those days and (even today) true Christians working for the preservation of the dignity and rights of the poor were quickly branded with that hot iron from hell - subversion. It was the mark of death and the start of a hunt, capture and terrible torture. Electric shocks to the sexual organs, heads plunged into toilet bowls filled with human faeces, sexual organs burnt with cigarettes or hot irons, eyes gouged out, testicles cut off and other horrors were all part of that very recent evil that have all to conveniently been forgotten and buried deep in the Filipino's memory. Not only is it convenient but absolutely necessary if those same politicians and military leaders who condoned or ordered it are to retain a shred of credibility. Many are still in positions of power or are making a political comeback dressed like national saviours.
Let me speak to all of those who welded power in those days of infamy . The fear and terror that you struck in the hearts of your victims will never be forgotten. The dark memories of terror, the searing pain will never be eased from the scars of your torture. The screams of agony that filled the military camps and the homes of the hate filled trapos will never be still in the hearing of those who barely survived. I myself have seen the result of work of the likes of Norberto Manero. In the early mornings of the eighties when the death and torture squads roamed the city I found mutilated bodies along the road and saw the pre-arranged Fernandez funeral car come to the killing grounds for the bodies - no questions asked - none answered. Victims whose sex organs were burnt black came to me for help, death treats filled the air if one protested or called for it to stop and demanded the politicians be accountable. That they were not nor are they still.
That was the work of Fr. Tuilo Favali. Called by God to be an advocate of the victims of torture he tried to release the prisoners, to denounce the incredible evil, to beg for pity, mercy, justice, but was ignored, rejected, branded. Here a prophet of God called out for justice to a hard hearted and callous military and political machine who called in their CHDF to get rid of him they didn't care how. He was a voice who said again and again - Evil is Evil. He nagged at their conscience, invaded their nightmares and showed them the bloody bodies of their victims. His living presence would never let them rest from the guilt of their bloody trail of evil deeds. He was the voice of God that had to be silenced. From those terrible times hardly a torturer or killer was jailed but Manero was.
Now the local amnesty board in South Cotobato says his killers did it all in the name of politics and Manero and his gang are to be forgiven, pardoned, released. There was no crime, they say, it was not a vicious murder but perhaps a political and patriotic act. Next we will be asked to admire and applaud it as a heroic deed done to rid the country of the communist pests and save the nation. Should this happen and Manero goes free it will be a dark day of shame for this country. Why should powerful people be working for the release of Manero? Is it because they miss his deadly and efficient work of eliminating enemies now that elections are near, or is he a constant reminder of their overwhelming guilt? Do they think that if he is pardoned, declared not guilty that they can fool themselves into believing that they are innocent of Father Favali's blood and that of countless others? They are mistaken. Their nightmares will grow worse, their evil deeds will follow them to the grave and beyond. and even there the voices of their victims will continue to cry out for justice. END
