Fr. Zacarias Agatep did not only preach about serving the less fortunate

FROM VP LENNY ROBREDO'S FACEBOOK PAGE Fr. Zacarias Agatep did not only preach about serving the less fortunate, he lived it as well. Even as a seminarian, he spent his summers working with poor families in their farms in Ilocos Sur. After his ordination, he served as a full-time chaplain of the Northern Luzon Chapter of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) where he helped them set up cooperatives, raised their awareness about their rights—particularly their right to own the land they till. He helped mobilize the farmers in campaigns for fair prices and fair practices. When the leadership of the FFF aligned themselves with President Marcos’ declaration of Martial Law, Agatep left and returned to parish work in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur. It was in Caoayan that he also joined the Christians for National Liberation, and began to secretly support the fight against Marcos’ dictatorial regime. Agatep was arrested and charged with subversion and illegal possession of firearms in in 1980. He was incarcerated for four months, and during those months, he continued to minister to his fellow prisoners. He was released in December 1980 as part of the regime’s preparations for the visit of Pope John Paul II—who visited the Philippines in February 1981. After his imprisonment, he wrote a letter to President Marcos: “If this is the kind of justice we get from the so-called guardians of the New Society, then there is no wonder why there are some people who go to the hills to fight the government,” he wrote He added, “If it is a crime to love the poor and support them in their just struggles against injustice, then I am ready to face the firing squad.” True enough, he was killed together with Alfredo Cesar, a former deacon who had been assisting him. The military claimed that they died in an armed encounter with constabulary soldiers. Agatep’s body showed that he was shot four times, from behind