Exsems salute Acido’s funeral

“Death is both separation and communion” were the inspiring words from the homily of Fr. Tony Llanes of Tagum Diocese.

Fr. Llanes eased the emotions of relatives, lawyers and former seminarians, as he gave his homily in the Funeral Mass of Rolando Acido, a city prosecutor of Mati City, who was murdered by a lone motorcycle-riding gunman while he was about to go out from his Hyundai Tucson in front of Mati City Hall in the morning of October 26.

Acido was a former theologian from Regional Major Seminary (REMASE).

When he went out from the seminary, he studied law at Ateneo de Davao University. After passing the bar, he joined the Department of Agrarian Reform, and then he became prosecutor of Mati City until his death.

“Let us see what is to become, anyway we are not now” were the words of Acido that Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate recalled during his eulogy.

“He always had a deep sense of justice,” Zarate said. His fellow brothers from the law school fraternity bid honor in front of his coffin.

His fellow former seminarians prayed together as they circled around Acido’s coffin on the same eulogy.

“Corruption is very un-Christian and non-Catholic” were the words of Acido whenever he was asked about his principle when he was still alive. He remained to be a man of faith and an icon of justice until his last breath.

Acido is truly a modern-day martyr of the Roman Catholic. “Kabs Lando stood his ground for truth and nothing else but the truth,” said former seminarian Dodong Ocon.

Atty. Acido was laid to rest last November 4.

Fr. Jojo Basilad officiated the celebration of the Funeral Mass at San Isidro Parish, Municipality of San Isidro, Davao del Norte.

He was concelebrated by 14 priests from the Archdiocese of Davao and Dioceses of Tagum and Mati, all graduates from REMASE.

Along with his bereaved wife, his only daughter and his relatives, Acido’s Funeral Mass was participated by hundreds of lawyers and a score of former seminarians from REMASE and other seminaries. (Vonz M. Hijada | OLLP SoCCom)