Bukidnon honors ‘eco-martyr’ Fr. Neri Satur who was slain 35 years ago

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A solemn blessing and candle-lighting ceremony in Barangay Guinoyoran marked the 35th death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Neri Lito Satur on Wednesday.

The priest being honored was slain due to his fierce defense of Bukidnon’s environmental preservation.

Fr. Teting Tumapon of the Guinoyoran Parish Church led the blessing of the spot where Satur was taken down.

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Tumapon was joined by local parishioners and ecology groups who lit candles beside the trees planted over the decades, in memory of the death of the eco-martyr.

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The memorial served as the province-wide culmination of the Diocese of Malaybalay’s annual Season of Creation, observed by parishioners in various parts of the province.

Reflecting on the Satur’s legacy, veteran broadcaster Boy Demit of DXDB Radyo Bandilyo recalled his early days as a volunteer reporter working alongside the priest in the early 1990s.

Demit shared a memorable statement from the late priest: “Life may come to an end, but the campaign against the destruction of nature will never cease.”

Satur was 29 years old when he was killed.

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He was serving as parish priest of Barangay Guinoyoran when he was ambushed and brutally killed on October 14, 1991 by armed men linked to illegal logging syndicates.

The priest was a deputized forest ranger and was helping in the seizures of illegal lumber.

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Thirty five years later, Satur’s sacrifice remains the guiding pillar of Bukidnon’s forest protection movement. /apl