BY SHAY CULLEN
FATHER Rufus Halley fought for the rights of the Muslims who were oppressed and targeted by the Philippine military. He did not bless their weapons or celebrate mass for the local commander, which would be a mockery as they were shelling Muslim villages. Rufus stood against the violence and aggression directed at the Muslim Maranao people and Christian villages that were believed by the military to harbor rebels.
He was a well-loved and friendly personality among all the communities, Muslims and Christians alike. They respected and admired him, trusted him, loved him. He was a friend to everyone, hurt no-one, loved all and never said no when asked for help. He spoke their languages fluently, he blended with their customs and culture. At one time in 1989, Rufus shocked his community when he went to work as a shop-keeper in a Muslim store. He was learning the language and the customs but much more, he was being a humble friend to the Muslim community.
Rufus was one of them and was a positive influence in making inter-religious dialogue, peacemaking and uniting the communities. His parish school was a happily integrated school and his stand for the Muslim rights made him suspect with the military. This likely made him a prime target as he stood against the evils of war and violence and the shelling of villages. His school became a place of shelter and refuge for Muslims during military operations. Among some military, it was likely he was known as giving comfort and protection and a friend to the “enemy.”
Then one day, on the 28th of August 2001, he was riding his motorcycle to officiate at the wedding of a poor young couple in a village when he was accosted by a band of heavily armed men. According to a witness, they attempted to take him but he tried to escape and they shot him dead at point blank range. A man of peace and reconciliation made a victim of terrible violent crime. The gun violence he had stood against came to silence him. He died for his beliefs, his values, his solidarity with the oppressed.
Who were these men? At the time, 20 years ago, amid the tension of Philippine military and rebel Muslim conflict, it has not been proven that they were militias sent by the military to intimidate Father Rufus. Perhaps to frighten and silence him for his stand against the violence and injustice against his Muslim friends and community.
The military and political authorities said the men were kidnappers, a frequent crime in that area at that time. We may never know who or why they killed Rufus, but he died for what he believed and stood for: his love of goodness and truth, his stand against wrongdoing and violence, his life of virtue, goodness and service to the poor and the spiritual values he lived and shared./PN
