Sources close to those responsible for the San Juan Bautista church in Masaya informed Article 66 that the dozen police officers at the service of the Daniel Ortega regime who had besieged the temple since Saturday, May 21, withdrew.
The agents of the dictatorship together with paramilitaries would have left the area this Tuesday, May 24, after surrounding all the points that lead to the parish for four days.
Related news: Ortega police again stalk Father Harving Padilla
“The important thing is that we managed to get out,” a person who was in the church of San Juan briefly told this media outlet.
As for the father Harvey Padilla, parish priest of the San Juan church, it was confirmed that the prelate is not in the temple. “Do not. He is no longer in the parish. From 12 noon he left, “said a source on condition of anonymity.
Padilla is one of the priests most besieged by the Ortega dictatorship from 2018 to the present day. Supporters of the Sandinista Front have launched a smear campaign against him, in which they point to the death of a police officer in June of that year during social protests.
Article 66 He tried to establish contact with Father Padilla, who has been in charge of the San Juan church for more than a decade, however he did not answer the phone calls; In the same way, he called the foreign vicar of Masaya, Father Bismarck Conde, by telephone, but no communication could be established.
Related news: “May the will of God be done,” says Father Harving Padilla before his possible arrest
In a recent interview, the priest blamed the Ortega Police for any aggression or attack against him. This month, the Ortega regime has twice sent its repressive apparatus to besiege the San Juan church and not allow parishioners to enter, which is considered a direct attack against the Catholic Church.
In addition to Father Harving Padilla, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez is another of the Catholic leaders who has also become a target of the Ortega regime. Although he managed to leave the Santo Cristo Church in Las Colinas, Managua, the siege against him continues in Matagalpa.
