Benjamin David de Jesus

OMI
Apostolic Vicar of Jolo
Other post(s)Titular Bishop of Bladia
Orders
Ordination29 December 1967
Consecration6 January 1992
by Pope John Paul II
Personal details
Born
Benjamin David de Jesus

(1940-07-25)July 25, 1940
Malabon, Rizal, Philippine Commonwealth
DiedFebruary 4, 1997(1997-02-04) (aged 56)
Jolo, Sulu, Philippines
BuriedJolo Cathedral
NationalityFilipino
DenominationRoman Catholic

Benjamin David de Jesus, OMI (25 July 1940 – 4 February 1997) was a Philippine prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Jolo from 1992 until his murder in 1997. He was the first Filipino bishop to be assassinated in the history of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines.[1]

Biography

Benjamin David de Jesus was born in the Hulong Duhat district of Malabon, Rizal (now part of Metro Manila) on 25 July 1940. He was ordained a priest as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate on 29 December 1967.

On 11 October 1991, Pope John Paul II named him titular bishop of Bladia and Apostolic Vicar of Jolo.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on 6 January 1992 from Pope John Paul.[3] He was installed in Jolo on 15 February.

He was shot six times and killed outside the cathedral on Jolo on 4 February 1997.[1][4][5] A female bystander was killed and several others were wounded.[6] Authorities blamed Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim group intent on disrupting interreligious rapprochement.[7] The crime remains unsolved.[8]

De Jesus was entombed in the Jolo Cathedral.[9] His assassination is commemorated annually, usually with demonstrations of Christian-Muslim solidarity.[8] The Ben de Jesus College Library at Notre Dame of Midsayap College is named after him.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Oblate Bishop Shot Dead in Jolo, Southern Philippines". UCA News. 4 February 1997. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  2. ↑ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXIV. 1992. pp. 91–2. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ↑ "Ordinazione di 11 Nuove Vescovi nella Solennità dell'Epifania" (in Italian). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. 6 January 1992. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. ↑ "Catholic Bishop Slain on Muslim Isle in Philippines". New York Times. Reuters. 7 February 1997. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. ↑ "Catholic Bishop Shot to Death in Philippines by Man, Young Boy". Los Angeles Times. 5 February 1997. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. ↑ "Suspect in Bishop de Jesus' Killing Arrested". UCA News. 28 January 1999.
  7. ↑ Larousse, William (2001). A Local Church Living for Dialogue: Muslim-Christian Relations in Mindanao-Sulu, Philippines: 1965–2000. Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana. pp. 184–5. ISBN 9788876528798. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 Salvosa II, Felipe F. (6 February 2018). "Jolo recalls death of Catholic bishop". Manila Times. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "Police investigate grenade attack on cathedral in S. Philippines". Catholic News Agency. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ben de Jesus College Library". Notre Dame of Midsayap College. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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