Aug 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Pastoral Vicar of the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos in Colombia, Fr. Alberto Perez, said the Church is now certain that Fr. Cesar Dario Peña, who was kidnapped by the Colombian Marxist group FARC four months ago, has been killed while in captivity.
“We are certain that Father was executed by his kidnappers, and we want these people to return to us the remains of Father Cesar,” said Fr. Perez.
According to local reporters, the body of Fr. Cesar, who was kidnapped on March 16, was thrown into the Nechi River, in the Colombian region of Antioquia, near the area where he was kidnapped.
In a statement published July 9, the Bishops Conference of Colombia demanded information on the well-being of the priest, as well as the immediate release of all those kidnapped in the country. Rebel groups did not respond to the bishops’ plea.
According to official statistics, in recent years at least one archbishop, one bishop and over 50 religious have been assassinated and another 19 have been kidnapped.