Another UCCP Pastor Abducted

WHY ARE OUR PASTORS AND CHURCH WORKERS TARGETED?

The recent abduction of Pastor Rodel and the abduction of Pastor Berlin last year fall into the pattern of state-sponsored persecution against critics of government corruption and human rights violations.

Consistent with the document of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) identifying various groups, including media groups and church institutions as ‘enemies of the state,’ Pastor Berlin was abducted one-year ago on May 27, 2007. He was tortured and interrogated as an alleged member of the Communist Party of the Philippines. He was then turned over to the PNP Camp Pantaleon, Imus Cavite where a warrant for a trumped-up murder charge was presented.

Pastor Rodel was abducted in the interest of the military to continue their devious schemes to press charges against Pastor Berlin and other church workers whom they perceive to be “enemies of the state.”

With the hundreds of cases of abductions and extra-judicial killings in the country, the AFP mastered the scheme of identifying legitimate people’s organizations as ‘front’ of the CPP. The AFP insists on linking activist citizens to the CPP and its armed group to justify attacks on their lives and liberty.

OTHER CHURCH WORKERS HARASSED, ARRESTED, KILLED

From 2001 to present, 27 church people including Bishop Alberto Ramento of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and 20 UCCP pastors and lay workers have been victims of extra-judicial killings. To date, none of the assailants have been brought to justice.

In March 2007, after a stinging criticism from the US Senate Committee that looked into the human rights record of the Arroyo administration, the government claimed that it is doing its best to address the issue. As expected, representatives of the Arroyo government boasted again at United Nations Universal Periodic Review last April on the ‘best efforts’ of the government to address the human rights crisis.

But in fact, the attacks on liberty, life and dignity of the Filipino people continue.

Pastor Berlin’s abduction and illegal detention since May 2007 is one of the glaring cases of continuing violence and injustice committed against human rights defenders and social activists. From May 2007 to May 2008, we have documented the following cases of human rights offenses against church workers which point to a continuing state policy of political persecution. The cases include:

* the killing of UCCP Pastor Filomeno Catambis, January 23, 2008 in Leyte

* the abduction and torture of UCCP youth and Bayan Muna member Ruel Muñasque, November 2007 in Pagadian

* surveillance and harassment on UCCP Pastor Joel Tendero, Pastor Edwin Egar and several other pastors

* harassment against members of 5 local churches of the UCCP in Palawan

* illegal arrest and detention on a trumped-up charge against United Methodist Pastor Melchor Abesamis, March-April 2008 in Mindoro

* threatened arrest against United Methodist Pastor Gregorio, Mindoro

* attempted killing of IFI priest Fr. Renato Respicio

* continuing surveillance and harassment against Fr. Terry Revollido and other activist IFI priests

OUR CALLS

We denounce the declarations of Mrs Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and new AFP Chief Alexander Yano to intensify the government’s war against ‘threat groups’ which translates to more brutal extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, unjustified arrests and detention against perceived critics of the corrupt government.

We demand the Arroyo government to rescind its official policy and operational plans that give rise to these human rights violations.

We continue to cry out for freedom and justice for Pastor Berlin and all victims of human rights violations.

Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)

Reference: Ms Amie Dural

Secretary General - 09052223173

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to PinoyPress for publication. Please email your materials to pinoypress @ gmail.com. PinoyPress is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of PinoyPress and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.