RESOURCES
Statements and Resolutions
Amnesty International Report
Human Rights and Peace Summit 2006
Letters of Appeal
Fact Sheets and Documentations
Poems and Songs

Statements and Resolutions

INTERNATIONAL

  1. WARC & World Church Leaders (July 2006)
  2. PCUSA General Assembly Resolution (18 June 2006)
  3. DISCIPLES CHURCH and UCC-USA Common Global Ministries Board (8 April 2006)
  4. UMC Statement (6 January 2006)
  5. NAFAUM Statement (6 January 2006)
  6. NCCJ Statement of Concern (4 November 2005)
  7. KAIROS Canada Statement (3 October 2005)
  8. UCC-USA General Synod Resolution (July 2005)
  9. WCC and CCA Pastoral Ecumenical Delegation Visit Statement (20 July 2005)

LOCAL

  1. NCCP - Getting Worse Everyday (7 August 2006)

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

Church Worker Murders in the Philippines
A Declaration of Solidarity and Protest from World Church Leaders
July 2006

We church leaders, gathered here in Manila, July 12-16, 2006, represent churches throughout Africa,  Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and North America. We have been gathered here in prayer and for critical reflection on the way military, economic and cultural forces of US imperial power bring death and destruction to so many peoples and nations of the world.

We are shocked and dismayed by the news that at least 690 people have died as a result of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines - men and women, diverse activists, journalists and organizers throughout Filipino communities.

Of particular concern are our sister and brother church workers who have been slain by death squads that seem connected to powerful economic, military and political interests in the country. Eighteen church people have been murdered in the last two years, 15 of whom were working for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).

All of these were innocent, guilty of nothing save their resolve to be faithful in securing justice and fullness of life for the disenfranchised and repressed communities of their nation.

We give thanks for these activists' lives, for our church workers' prophetic witness in the name of justice, love and life - for the gospel. May their deaths not be in vain, bearing fruit for the ongoing restoration of all Filipinos seeking justice and freedom from poverty, discrimination and exclusion.

We pray for this violence to cease. May the families of the slain be comforted. May Filipino churches, media and society remember them by name, and begin the truth-telling that identifies their killers, so as to bring healing for all who love them and value their work.

We are strengthened in our resolve to resist the global empire's brutal political economy of poverty, repression, torture and assassination suffered by activists for justice and peace. We remain inspired today by the struggle waged and the sacrifice made by these faithful church workers.

Signed:

  1. Rev. Park Seong-Won, Young Nam Theological Seminary, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, South Korea
  2. Dr. Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar, United Theological College (Bangalore), India
  3. Rev. Dr. Karen Bloomquist, The Lutheran World Federation, USA/Switzerland
  4. Ms. Omega Bula, The United Church of Canada, Canada
  5. Rev. Jameson Buys, Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa, South Africa
  6. Bp. Erme Camba, Silliman University, Philippines
  7. Rev. Cheryl Dibeela, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, South Africa
  8. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Duchrow, Kairos Europa, Germany
  9. Dr. Chris Ferguson, World Council of Churches/Jerusalem, Canada
  10. Mr. Muto Ichiyo, Asian Peace Alliance, Japan
  11. Ms. Carmencita Karagdag, Peace for Life, Philippines
  12. Rev. Dr. Keum Jooseop, Council for World Mission, South Korea/Great Britain
  13. Prof. Dr. Kim Yong Bock, Advanced Institute for Integral Study of Life, South Korea
  14. Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, St. Scholastica's College, Philippines
  15. Prof. Ninan Koshy, Political Commentator and Author, India
  16. Ms. Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Guyana/Switzerland
  17. Rev. Dr. Mark Lewis Taylor, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA

 

 

 

PCUSA Commissioners’ Resolution

regarding the denial of human rights in the Philippines

18 June 2006

 

 

BE IT RESOLVED that the 217th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting June 15 to 22, 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama adopt the following and request the Office of the Stated Clerk to communicate these concerns to the entities listed below, items 1-4.

 

1.        Express the deep appreciation and the concern of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), for their witness to Jesus Christ and service to their people, particularly for our brother and sister Christians in the families of the men and women recently murdered by forces opposed to the protection of human rights. These killings  have accelerated since 2003. In 2003: Rey Corpin; ’04 Isaias Manolo, Jr., Joel Baclao, Juancho Sanchez, Vicente Olea; ‘05Abe Sungit, Fr. William Todena, Alfredo Davis, Rev. Edison Lapuz, Rev. Raul Domingo, Jose Manegdeg, Junico Halem: ’06 Mateo Morales, Nestor Arinque, Rev. Jemias Tinambacan, Jose Doton, Andy Pawikan, Noel Capulong. These 18 martyrs range in age from 13 to 71 years.

 

2.        Call upon the Philippine government to: A) Bring to justice the killers of these pastors, other Church workers, and other Filipinos similarly executed and/or tortured by paramilitary forces, and B) Support the request of our sister Church, the UCCP, for a full inquiry into these murders which terrorize local populations and dishonor the reputation of the Philippines.

 

3.        Call upon the Government of the United States, through its Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney and other appropriate officials, to communicate to the Philippine government, including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Legislature, the grave concern of US citizens for these egregious abuses, and to insist on the maintenance of the rule of law and to provide for an open, civil society in the Philippines. The GA further asks that the US Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, request the UN Human Rights Commission to investigate the deteriorating human rights situation and specifically the murders of 15 church people from April 2003 to the present.

 

Rationale

 

The Presbytery of Sacramento for over five years has had a partnership with the Northeast Southern Tagalog Conference (NESTCon) of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP). A delegation from Sacramento Presbytery traveled to Manila, Luzon and Digas City, Mindanao from May 17th to June 2nd 2006 for the purposes of meeting and listening to the needs expressed by the fisher people of Lake Laguna and the villagers recovering from devastating mudslides in the back country of Luzon Provence. The second purpose, later in the visit, was to carry greetings to the UCCP Quadrennial General Assembly from the presbytery and from the PCUSA. This greeting was given and received amid warm fellowship and mutual celebration of our common ministry in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

In devastating contrast, the request for this resolution comes in response to the assassination of Noel Capulong, the field trip host and interpreter who was shot on May 27th just five days following his meeting with the Sacramento group. During that same week at the UCCP General Assembly it was reported that fifteen individuals have been murdered similarly over the past three years.

 

The PCUSA has historically raised its voice to bring to light the needs of Southeast Asian countries and the obligation of others, particularly the United States of America, to relate to the Republic of the Philippines in a way consistent with respect for human dignity and the value of each individual. We cite as foundation the 1949 General Assembly vote to support the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and the adoption of the Confession of 1967 which states in part: “Christians who exclude, dominate, or patronize their fellow men, however subtly, resist the Spirit of God and bring contempt on the faith which they profess.” Action of the 206th General Assembly, 1994, that states “We reaffirm the commitment of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to work with and support its ecumenical partners in the Asia-Pacific region in their ministries, and in those political and economic circumstances that impact their life and witness (Minutes, 1994, Part I, page 310.).

 

Pertaining particularly to the Republic of the Philippines, we cite:

1997 Statement  –  PC(USA),  pp. 600-601

Deep concern exists over the "disappeared" people in the Philippines. Since the early1970s, more than sixteen hundred people, who are known critics of the government, have "disappeared." No serious investigation has ever been conducted regarding this issue.

2001 Statement  –  PC(USA), p. 310

Human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions and the torture or ill-treatment of suspected members of armed opposition groups security personnel, were reported (cf. Amnesty International Report 2000, p. 193).

 

Since the murder of Benino Aquino, exiled husband of Corazon Aquino, and the end of the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos (1986), The Republic of the Philippines was presumed to be making progress as a democracy respecting human rights. Events of the last year have put this process in doubt. Recent murders and a growing atmosphere of fear in the cities, towns and hinterlands suggest that the Philippines, at least in some areas, is descending into a human rights crisis. Religious leaders and Christian communities are disrespected, if not targeted for “removal,” singled out for violence by death squads operating with apparent impunity repeatedly using a “signature” method of assassination with the use of two people on a motorcycle driving by and shooting their target then speeding off.

 

The PC USA is an ecumenical partner with the UCCP and stands beside that Church and other Christians bravely working for justice, peace and reconciliation in the Philippines. We share the same tradition that affirms God's work in the world through enlightened conscience, and sees God's blessings in democracy, religious freedom and other opportunities for human fulfillment.

 

We have an opportunity today to add the weight of the entire PCUSA body to the expressed concern of our Stated Clerk in his letter to the President of the Philippines quoted below regarding this impending crisis.

 

Stated Clerk Addresses Violence in the Philippines

March 8, 2006

 

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Malacalang Palace

Manila 1005, The Philippines

Dear Madam President:

 

On behalf of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), I write to express our alarm and dismay over the recent developments in the Philippines. We are aware that there has been an increase in recent weeks in peaceful protests against the policies of the government and against corruption in official circles. Unfortunately, instead of addressing the people's grievances, your government has dealt with the situation by the use of military force. While the rationale for such a response was the need "to maintain law and order through the country," it led, in fact, to a needless escalation of general violence, the violation of human rights, the curtailment of people's freedom and a trampling of democracy.

 

The issuing of Presidential Proclamation 1017 destabilized the situation even further, and the fact that the government withdrew the proclamation before a Court of Law could act on its constitutionality appears to be prima facie evidence that the government realized that its violent response to the people was unwise and illegal.

 

At a time when the country is facing a deepening social, political and economic crisis, the government can ill afford to turn a deaf ear to the legitimate needs and desires of the people. Further, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights your government is bound to respect and abide by the international norms and standards of that declaration.

 

As a step toward stopping further deterioration, we urge you to release all who have been detained for their participation in nonviolent demonstrations, to meet with leaders of the people who represent the legitimate aspirations of the people for full democracy and economic stability, and to insure that all citizens are accorded the due process and respect for their rights to which the Philippine Constitution entitles them.

 

Cordially yours,

 

Clifton Kirkpatrick

Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

Presbyterian Church (USA)

 

Submitted by:           Rev. Tom Tripp, Presbytery of Sacramento

Elder Bruce Ogden, Presbytery of Sacramento

 

 

Resolution: Human Rights in the Philippines

Passed by the Common Global Ministries Board, 8 April 2006 

 

WHEREAS the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the United Church of Christ (in North America) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, through our predecessor denominations, have been in partnership for over 100 years; and

 

WHEREAS our partnership calls us to prayer and advocacy for peace based on justice (religious, racial, economic, social and political) in our own contexts and on behalf of all persons and the whole of creation; and

 

WHEREAS as Christians, we have a Biblical mandate to care for the poor and marginalized, particularly the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40), to bring good news to the oppressed and release to the prisoners (Isaiah 61:1);

 

WHEREAS in faithfulness to that tradition, we are called to give voice to the voiceless, speaking truth to power where that power has been used to oppress rather than liberate; and

 

WHEREAS continuing and escalating human rights violations in the Philippines under the Arroyo administration have been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, the U.S. State Department, and many non-governmental Philippine human rights organizations; and

 

WHEREAS during 2005, human rights groups documented at least 152 political killings and 52 other assassination attempts on human rights workers, church people, members of legal progressive political parties, lawyers, church leaders, and sectoral activists; and

 

WHEREAS between April 2004 and March 22, 2006, fourteen clergy and lay members were killed under the Arroyo administration in the Philippines, and at least seven others survived assassination attempts.  Others were abducted and are still missing, and many church leaders and lay members have been harassed and threatened.  All of these victims are human rights activists, members of progressive political parties, and vocal critics of logging, mining, militarization, and other destructive projects; and

 

WHEREAS the rights to peaceful assembly, free speech including protest and criticism of the government, and right of due process, which are guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution, have been denied by the Philippine government under Proclamation 1017, and continue to be curtailed;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ condemns the extrajudicial murder of human rights activists, church leaders, and others who work for the benefit of the poor and marginalized; as well as the use of armed violence against peaceful protestors; arrests made without due process; the use of intimidation, surveillance, coercion, and kidnapping; 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board joins the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in calling on the President of the Republic of the Philippines to

a)        aggressively conduct timely, full, and impartial investigations into the human rights violations that have occurred during her presidency, and those of which may yet occur, in particular, the extra-judicial executions and disappearances of human rights workers, including journalists, church leaders and political activists, so that the perpetrators may be promptly brought to justice;

b)        ensure that any member of the security forces suspected of committing human rights violations (in particular extra-judicial executions, disappearances and death threats) are suspended from duty pending a full investigation into their conduct;

c)        and establish effective programs for the protection of peaceful human rights workers, victims and witnesses called to give testimony or evidence during the judicial process from violence, threats or other forms of intimidation.  

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board calls upon Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ members and congregations, regions and conferences, to unite in prayer to support our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Philippines, and to express solidarity with all those who work on behalf of the poor and marginalized.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Global Ministries co-executive Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte personally convey our solidarity with and support of churches in the Philippines in during the General Assembly of the UCCP in April 2006; and,

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board calls upon its members, congregations, regions and conferences, to write letters to the U.S. Congress, calling upon them to consider human rights abuses before sending further economic and military aid to the Philippines, and to put pressure on the Philippine government to support full human rights for all Philippine people.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Global Ministries Board encourages that funds be raised on behalf of the families of victims of extrajudicial murder, attempted murder and enforced disappearances.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as a sign of our solidarity and in witness to our commitment to pray for our partners in the Philippines, we call upon the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the General Minister and President of the UCC to forward this resolution to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights, along with a letter condemning the continuing violence and violation of human rights.

 

 

 

 

 

United Methodist Church Statement

6 January 2006

 

The United Methodist Church delegation on Human Rights in the Philippines gathered in Manila this week out of concern for the growing numbers of killings and assassinations in recent months of church workers, human rights defenders, journalists, justice advocates and others. Our delegation heard from victims and survivors, many church leaders, workers, human rights advocates, and a variety of persons from non-governmental organizations. In addition, we met with the United States Embassy, Malacañang Palace, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

 

We represent 11 million United Methodists in Africa, Europe, Russia, the Philippines, and the United States. United Methodist roots in the Philippines are deep and growing.

Those of us from the United States are present at the invitation of our sisters and brothers here. The stories and testimonies deeply move us.

 

People have the right to a secure life and to have their grievances and disputes heard through appropriate legal processes. Yet, we heard accounts from people who have been directly affected by violence, some of whom are members of our local churches, who say they believe military and police are responsible for the deaths of their loved ones. Armed Forces of the Philippines leaders dispute these charges. However, because of the high level of fear and intimidation among victims it is difficult to identify perpetrators, making it appear that they enjoy impunity for their actions. This threatens the quality of civic life in the Philippines.

 

It is essential the rule of law be followed. A government is measured by the degree to which it protects the poorest and most vulnerable. Church and human rights workers are not subversives and terrorists.

 

Our people are not armed. They teach, provide medical care, counsel and educate. We implore the government and military officials to recognize the important work of those who seek to minister with the poor and marginalized and to distinguish their work as vital and important to the country and its people.

 

The U.S. embassy and State Department expressed to us their concern with these extra-judicial killings and we anticipate these murders will be included in the annual human rights report by the State Department to be released in February. In return, we requested that in the joint prosecution of the war on terror by the Philippine and U.S. governments, our church workers, human rights activists and peace with justice advocates not be labeled as subversives.

 

We were graciously received and had valuable discussions with all concerned. We expressed our strong conviction that the killings must stop and that church leaders and workers must not be targeted and marked as terrorists. This is essential. It is unacceptable that those who are laboring on behalf of Jesus Christ with and for the poor and marginalized are labeled as subversives or leftists or enemies of the state. They are not. They are lay and clergy ministers of the Gospel and are working for a better and more prosperous and just Philippines.

 

The success of our trip will be known by the end of the killings and assassinations. If the killings do not stop, we pledge to continue the strongest possible advocacy to the governments of the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America and the United Nations to insist these injustices cease.

 

The real cause of the problems in the Philippines is poverty, landlessness, and the inequitable distribution of wealth and power. These must be addressed in order for the nation to find peace and prosperity.

 

We call upon President Arroyo and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to take the following actions:

  • an immediate and impartial investigation of all recent extrajudicial executions;
  • a commitment not to impose martial rule or other limitations on civil liberties or human rights;
  • revise the government's military strategy for resolving the insurgency to insure the safety of non-combatants and to avoid indiscriminate destruction of property;
  • cease the practice by the government and military of labeling those who work for justice and for the poor as subversives or communists;
  • conduct follow-up meetings with the three bishops of our church in the Philippines, including our mission partners to discuss progress on these investigations.

 

We pledge our continuing support of the United Methodist Church in the Philippines, the United Church of Christ, and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. We will continue to monitor the situation. If future killings take place we will continue to address our concerns through all appropriate avenues including the U.S. Congress.

We are grateful for the witness of our bishops, clergy and laity, and mission partners in the Philippines, and we support their continued courageous ministry with the poor and marginalized.

 

We are one in Christ with you.

  • Bishop John Hopkins, of Cleveland, Ohio, Chair, Connectional Table and Resident Bishop of the Ohio East Conference of The United Methodist Church.
  • Rev. R. Randy Day, of New York, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries.
  • James Winkler of Washington, D.C. general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society.
  • The Rev. Larry Hollon, of Nashville, Tenn., general secretary of United Methodist Communications.
  • The Rev. Larry Pickens, of New York, general secretary of the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns.
  • Ascencion (Inday) Day, of New York, executive director of the National Federation of Asian American United Methodists.
  • Liberato Bautista, of New York, assistant general secretary for United Nations and International Affairs of the General Board of Church and Society.
  • The Rev. Ruby-Nell Estrella, district superintendent of the Northwest Manila District in the Philippines.
  • Kristina Gonzales, of Seattle, Wash., a member of the Connectional Table.

 

 

 

NAFAUM Statement

Our Cry For Justice

6 June 2006

 

The National Association of Filipino-American United Methodists – collectively and individually as members – denounce as cowardly and barbaric the assassination of clergy and lay and church workers in the Philippines. The most recent victims of these dastardly acts of violence were Noli Capulong, Jeremias Tinambacan, Andy Pawican, Jose Doton and still many others who share a passion and calling to work for justice and human dignity for all of God’s children.

 

We join with all in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, which appears to be particularly targeted in this continuing systematic campaign of fear and intimidation, and countless others across the church, in the Philippines and in the international community, in raising our collective and individual voices of outrage and condemnation of these killings.  We decry the condition where these lawless acts of violence particularly against those who are serving the very poor continue unabated in the Philippines with apparent impunity. 

 

We stand in solidarity particularly with the leaders and members of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, other churches as well as non-governmental organizations across the nation, and the whole world in the common cry for justice in all these assassinations.  And we urge the various branches of the Philippine government and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to redouble efforts to stop these extra-judicial killings, restore order, and insure the common good.

 

We embrace with reverence the memory of these brave servants of God, affirming that theirs will be part of the legacy of courage and prophetic witness of all, to the glory of the One who came that we might have life abundantly.

 

We offer our sympathy and love to members of the family and loved ones of these heroes of faith. They endure the consequences of their loved ones’ ultimate sacrifice, and we uphold with them the hope for which their loved ones died, praying for the time when “justice will roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream…”  (Amos 5:24, NRSV).

 

With the church and the ecumenical community we uphold our Lord’s call to remember, in the face of all these real challenges to our faith to rejoice in our sufferings as a badge of our authentic witness.  We urge all people of faith to do battle with the principalities and powers of evil in this world. Do so with unwavering faith and unflinching courage in advocacy and continuing faithfulness in ministry. Fight for justice, equity and human dignity.  And ultimately, we must take courage in Paul’s declaration that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8: 37,ff, NRSV).

 

 

Rev. Dr. Vivencio Vinluan                                                       Mr. Aquilino B. Javier Jr., President

For the Resolutions Committee                                                 For the NAFAUM Borrad

 

 

 

 

NCCJ Statement of Concern

on the Unrestrained Killings of Activists in thePhilippines
4 November 2005

 

"and justice will produce lasting peace and security" (Isaiah 32:17)

 

The National Christian Council in Japan (NCC-J) strongly condemns the rise of political killings in the Philippines which has been targeting church leaders, trade union leaders, human rights defenders and members of progressive organizations.

 

NCC-J has been working with the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCC-P) for the last 20 years to bring about reconciliation and peace through organizing mutual visitations and regular consultations.

 

We have become increasingly concerned to see that security forces, including police, soldiers, and local civilian militias, are mobilized to make way for industrial and real estate development projects against the interests of the
people and the environment. As Japanese citizens, we feel compelled to register this concern with the government of the Philippines and Japan because Japan's ODA have been playing a major role for such development projects.

 

Our concern has deepened in the last few years as we observe that the Philippine Government appears to proactively sanction extrajudicial killings and brutality by security forces in the name of the 'war against terror', in which victimization of civilians is only regarded as incidental / 'bound to happen' (Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita). During the Pastoral Ecumenical Delegation Visit organized by the World Council of Churches and the Christian Conference of Asia in July 2005, our delegates from NCC-J met the victims and their families and heard the heartrending testimonies firsthand.

 

The large-scale human rights violations were observed by the delegation including police and military intimidation, illegal detention, torture, forced recruitment, and forced evacuation.

 

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has gone still further by tagging our longtime partner churches and organizations as an 'Enemy of the State' along with other legal organizations. At the same time, we began to hear news of killings of church leaders, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and trade union leaders allegedly by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) , the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU). This year alone, the number of victims is almost 100. Among the victims are pastors and church workers who were known to us. They were committed Christians who were accompanying people threatened by mining plans or mass discharges.

 

The circumstantial evidence is enough to establish that these killings are perpetrated with impunity under the government policy of 'war against terror' in response to the pressed needs of the Philippine government to stage 'security' for industrial peace under huge pressures from the international economical powers including Japan, to put the finances right and provide favorable environment for foreign companies.

 

Know that security cannot be achieved by military force. It is justice that produces lasting peace and security (Isaiah 32:17).

 

We call upon the Philippine government for the following:

 

  • To restore justice to the victims of violence by carrying out immediate and impartial investigations into these extrajudicial executions. Make results of these investigations public, and bring those found responsible to
    justice. Give protection and assistance to the families of victims.
  • To take immediate and comprehensive steps to eradicate the culture of impunity from security forces. Disband the CAFGUs.
  • To promote agrarian and land rights reform.
  • To repeal the 1995 Mining Act.
  • To publicly admit the wrong labeling of human rights defenders as "terrorists" and apologize to those listed as "Enemies of State".
  • To change policies for resolving the "insurgency". Engage in dialogue to resolve conflict through peaceful means.

 

 

National Christian Council in Japan
Reiko Suzuki (Moderator)
Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto (General Secretary)
Rev. Hidetoshi Watanabe (Chair of Philippine Committee)

 

 

 

KAIROS Canada Statement

A Call to Stop the Killing of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines

3 October 2005

 

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives strongly condemns the rise of political killings in the Philippines targeting religious leaders, trade union leaders, human rights defenders and members of progressive organizations.
The most recent incident is the summary execution of Diosdado Fortuna, President of Nestle Philippines Union in Calamba, Laguna on September 22, 2005.

 

Workers at Nestle Philippines have been on strike for the past three years. They have encountered violent dispersals and harassments on top of being denied of their economic rights.  Diosdado Fortuna valiantly led the union up
to his last breath.  Mr. Fortuna was gunned down on September 22, 2005 at 6 pm aboard his motorcyle on his way home from the picket line.

The perpetrators, unidentified men riding a motorcyle, were believed to be members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).  Mr Fortuna was one of the speakers at a public rally
on September 21, commemorating the 33rd anniversary of Martial Law under the Marcos regime.  He drew parallels to the current government’s track record on human rights violations and its suppression of workers’ economic and political
rights.  During both these events, the military and the police were on red alert and highly visible in Cabuyao and Calamba where they set up checkpoints.

Prior to the summary execution of Diosdado Fortuna, Rev. Raul Domingo died on September 4th two weeks after being shot by suspected military agents in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.  He was a 35-year old pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), an active anti-mining activist and one of the many church leaders who called for substantive government reforms.   In another incident, two suspected military agents riding a motorcycle killed

Atty. Norman Bocar, a lawyer and human rights defender, on September 1, 2005 in Borongan, Eastern Samar.  He was the regional chairman of BAYAN, a coalition of patriotic organizations in the Philippines.

These are just three of the almost 100 activists, religious leaders, human rights defenders and trade union leaders killed since the beginning of this year.  KAIROS has signed a petition and urgent action alert issued by the Trade for People Campaign of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance based in Geneva calling for an immediate and impartial investigation into all recent extrajudicial executions, and the prosecution of those involved in the killings.  KAIROS has written letters to the President of the Philippines and related government agencies on behalf of the Canadian churches to express our condemnation and sadness over the targeted killings, including members of our partner churches and groups, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) and allied groups working for social justice.

A recent ecumenical delegation to the Philippines organized by the World Council of Churches reported on the rising number of political killings and on “large-scale human rights violations including police and military intimidation, illegal detention, and torture of peasants working on the farms of rich landlords ...”  The WCC delegation report also stated that “among the root causes of the current turmoil in the country are:  the inadequacies of state institutions such as the judiciary, inequitable distribution of resources which traps many Filipinos in abject poverty, and the monopoly of
transnational corporations and other foreign interests in resource extraction”.

KAIROS mourns each death and deplores the ongoing violence.  We stand in solidarity with our partners and the Filipino people in their struggle to assert their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.  We uphold their right to defend those rights without fear for their lives or violent reprisal.

We ask the Philippine government to take the following measures:

1.   Carry out an immediate and impartial investigation into all extrajudicial executions and other form

      of human rights violations committed against the Filipino people.  Make the results of these

      investigations public and bring those responsible to justice;

 

2.  Repeal all legislation that contravenes the economic and political rights of the people, including the

     1995 Mining Act, which puts corporate profit before the interest of people and the environment;

 

3.  Immediately stop further extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations and order the

     chain of command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to

     strictly enforce international standards and national laws protecting the civil and political rights of

     citizens.

Our concern about these killings springs from our deep belief in the sacredness of life as a gift from God, and our responsibility to protect the rights of the people.

Toronto, Ontario CANADA                     

October 3, 2005

KAIROS:  Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives is a coalition of Canadian churches, church baased agencies and religious organizations dedicated to promoting human rights, justice and peace, viable human development and universal solidarity among the people of the Earth.

 

 

 

UCC-USA General Synod Resolution

INVESTIGATIONS INTO HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

July 2005

 

(The Twenty-fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ votes to adopt the resolution, “Investigations into Human Rights Violations in the Philippines,” as amended by the committee.)

 

WHEREAS the United Church of Christ (in North America) and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, through our predecessor denominations, have been in partnership for over 100 years, a partnership that was celebrated at General Synod 23 with the presence of Bishop Elmer Bolocon, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), and which has been realized in global church partnerships between the Michigan Conference and the Visayas District Conference, California-Nevada South Conference and the Negros District Conference and Central Mindanao Conference, the Minnesota Conference and the South East Mindanao Jurisdiction (SEMJur), and the Southwest Conference and the Mindanao District Conference, all with the guidance of Wider Church Ministries and the East Asia and Pacific Office of Common Global Ministries; and

 

WHEREAS our partnership calls us to prayer and advocacy for peace based on justice (religious, racial, economic, social and political) in our own contexts and on behalf of all persons and the whole of creation; and

 

WHEREAS we seek to keep the faith of the prophet Isaiah, who calls on God’s people to share our bread with the hungry, our houses with the homeless, and clothe the naked because those in need are our own (Isaiah 58:7), and to keep the faith of Jesus, who not only echoes Isaiah when he announces his ministry as one in which oppression and captivity are undone (Luke 4:18), but who also speaks of blessings for those who mourn, are meek, and hunger and thirst for righteousness, assuring that peacemakers will be called children of God (Matthew 5:4-9); and

 

WHEREAS in faithfulness to that tradition, we are called to give voice to the voiceless, to listen to the voices of all God’s people, especially those who have historically been ignored, dismissed or silenced, and to not only listen but to speak with and for them in the pursuit of justice and peace, speaking truth to power where that power has been used to oppress rather than liberate; and

 

WHEREAS we recognize that our brothers and sisters in The United Church of Christ in the Philippines are called to “participate in the establishment of a just and compassionate social order” (from the UCCP Statement of Faith), and we respect their vision of ministry as one “where the church becomes a genuine partner of the people in the mission of transforming society toward a truly democratic, truly national and free and sustainable society whose governance is truly pro-people, free from all forms of corruption and any form of foreign domination, where the nation will be able to emerge and stand as an equal among nations” (from the UCCP Vision, Goals and Mission in the Next Jubilee): and

 

WHEREAS an alarming increase in human rights violations in the Philippines has been documented by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, the Philippine Commission on Human Rights and many non-governmental Philippine human rights organizations; and

 

WHEREAS between April 1986, when Ferdinand Marcos was ousted and the 20 year reign of martial law was suspended and democracy and free press were restored, and December 2004, over 60 Filipino journalists were killed because of their investigative journalism work on human rights violations, and 25 of these killings have taken place under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who came to office in January 2001, and none of these cases have resulted in a conviction (according to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines), and 16 such murders took place in March 2005 alone, with 6 UCCP members in Leyte and Samar ambushed and/or assassinated in March and April; and

 

WHEREAS in response to the murder on May 12, 2005, of Rev. Edison Lapuz, Conference Minister of the North Eastern Leyte Conference and local coordinator for Bayan Muna, a progressive and grassroots political party, Bishop Elmer Bolocon has called on the UCCP’s global and ecumenical partners to join them in prayer and resistance by calling for investigations into this and the other violations that continue unchecked, a systematic campaign against progressive church and community leaders whose prophetic voices are being silenced by harassment, intimidation and death;

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that General Synod 25 of the United Church of Christ joins the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in calling on the President of the Republic of the Philippines to

a)       aggressively conduct timely, full, and impartial investigations into the human rights violations that have occurred during her presidency, and those of which may yet occur, in particular, the extra-judicial executions and disappearances of human rights workers, including journalists, church leaders and political activists, so that the perpetrators may be promptly brought to justice;

b)       ensure that any member of the security forces suspected of committing human rights violations (in particular extra-judicial executions, disappearances and death threats) are suspended from duty pending a full investigation into their conduct;

c)        and establish effective programs for the protection of peaceful human rights workers, victims and witnesses called to give testimony or evidence during the judicial process from violence, threats or other forms of intimidation.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that General Synod 25 call upon United Church of Christ members and churches to unite in prayer to support the ecumenical-pastoral teams visiting the Philippines beginning in July, 2005.

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as a sign of our solidarity and in witness to our commitment to pray for our partners in the Philippines, the General Minister and President of the UCC forward this resolution to the President of the Republic of the Philippines and the Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Human Rights. The resolution shall also be forwarded to our global and ecumenical partners through the offices of the Chairperson of the National Council of the UCCP, the General Secretary of the UCCP, and our own Wider Church Ministries. 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this General Synod requests the East Asia and Pacific Office of Common Global Ministries to regularly update the local churches and conferences of the United Church of Christ on the human rights situation in the Philippines, especially as it impacts the life and work of the UCCP.

 

Funding for this action will be made in accordance with the overall mandates of the affected agencies and the funds available.

 

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WCC and CCA Statement

July 20, 2005

 

Prominent church leaders from the Philippines, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, accompanied by thirteen partners from Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Norway, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and the United States, visited Eastern Visayas, Hacienda Luisita and Mindanao July 14-21, 2005. Together they heard and saw for themselves the degree of human rights violations and demonstrated a strong international solidarity with the victims and families of victims.

 

This pastoral delegation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) visited the Philippines at the invitation of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP). The delegation is an expression of Christians and churches sharing their pain and support for each other as members of one body. The scripture calls on them to be prophetic and to promote justice and human dignity. The delegation is acutely aware of the fact that the majority of the Filipino people have yet to enjoy life in all its fullness. Poverty, political repression and other human rights violations are the daily plight of the majority of the 85 million Filipinos.

 

The NCCP, the Filipino churches, human rights organizations and other people’s movements have been monitoring the recent spate of killings of church workers, human rights defenders, journalists, justice advocates and others in the Philippines. They have urgently appealed to the Government of the Republic of Philippines (GRP) to put an immediate end to the pattern of killings that, for many Filipinos, are reminiscent of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship. The WCC wrote on March 31, 2005 to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, calling on her to set up an independent investigation into the atrocities being committed and to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice. The CCA wrote to the President on May 23, 2005 raising similar concerns.

 

The pastoral delegation listened to many moving testimonies from the victims themselves and from their families. Members of the clergy of the Philippine Independent Church and the United Church of Christ in the Philippines have been murdered. Hundreds of others especially the indigenous communities have been terrorized, brutalized and maimed by security forces. Large scale human rights violations including police and military intimidation, illegal detention, and torture of peasants working on the farms of rich landlords are being perpetrated. These patterns of gross and systematic human rights violations were further clarified and confirmed by a wide cross-section of people’s movements, human rights organizations, local religious leaders, councilors and members of Congress.

 

Once again, as in the past, churches and church workers serving the poor as Christ commanded, as well as community leaders and organizations are being labeled as "subversives." Once again, counterinsurgency against the New People’s Army is being advanced by the officialdom as an excuse for atrocities and bombings.

 

Among the root causes of the current turmoil in the country are: the inadequacies of state institutions such as the judiciary, inequitable distribution of resources which traps many Filipinos in abject poverty, and the monopoly of transnational corporations and other foreign interests in resource exploitation. These shortcomings remain pervasive and the promise of full enjoyment of human rights is still far distant.

 

At the meetings with the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President, Mr. Eduardo Ermita, and with Commissioner Wilhem D. Soriano of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines, the pastoral delegation expressed serious concern at the deterioration in the observance of human rights. It raised issues regarding the safeguarding of the people’s civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights, the need for the resumption of peace talks with the NDF, and the lack of the government’s response to the reports and recommendations of the Commission on Human Rights.

 

The key recommendations of the delegation include:

  • an immediate and impartial investigation of all recent extrajudicial executions
  • revision of the government’s military strategy for resolving the insurgency to insure the safety of non-combatants and to avoid indiscriminate destruction of property
  • resumption of the stalled peace talks between the Government of the Republic of Philippines and the National Democratic Front
  • assertion of civilian control of the military which must be held accountable for its actions and which must be in accordance with international humanitarian law
  • promotion of agrarian and land rights reform which preserves the integrity of creation and honors the ancestral domain of the indigenous peoples
  • reform of the judicial system to guarantee its independence and integrity
  • repeal of the 1995 Philippine Mining Act
  • cessation of the practice by the government and military of labeling those who work for justice and for the poor as subversives or communists
  • request to the WCC to bring the delegation’s concerns to the attention of the appropriate UN instrumentalities and mechanisms
  • continuation of an ecumenical ministry of presence with the victims of human rights violations; this includes information sharing about the situation, education, advocacy for just economic policies and rendering humanitarian assistance.

 

The report of the pastoral delegation will be circulated widely by the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches. The recommendations of the delegation will be transmitted to these ecumenical bodies and the delegation members’ own churches. They will continue to collaborate on all followup activities.

In conclusion, we the members of the Pastoral Ecumenical Delegation wish to say to the suffering people of the Philippines:

  • we admire your persistence, your courage and your hope in the face of grave injustices
  • we are one in Christ with you
  • we will stand with you, we will advocate for you, and
  • we pray God’s peace and justice for you.

 

 

LOCAL

 

Getting Worse Everyday

(On the Killing of Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa)

Press Statement

7 August 2006

 

Another church worker from one of the member churches of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) has fallen from the bullets of assassins. Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa of the United Methodist Church (UMC) of Malobago, Daraga, Albay was killed by 10 armed men last August 3, 2006. He is the 21st church worker killed since May 2001.

 

Pastor Sta. Rosa's killing came after three activists were killed in a span of 24 hours in the regions of Northern and Central Luzon and Sorsogon province. One of those killed, Rei Mon Guran, spokesperson of League of Filipino Students in Aquinas University in Legazpi City was also an active member of the Christian Youth Fellowship of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (CYF-UCCP).

 

It is interesting to note that these murders continue even after the announcement by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of a 10 week deadline to investigate the spate of extra-judicial killings among activists and journalists. It is also interesting to note that newspaper reports  regarding Pastor Sta. Rosa's murder point to the military as possible suspects.

 

Clearly the situation is getting worse everyday. The impunity of how these killings are carried out is an affront to God's gift of life.

 

As NCCP mourns with the family of Pastor Sta. Rosa and other victims of extra-judicial killings, we call for a stop to these killings. We also call for an independent investigation on these violations of human rights by a group of esteemed individuals from different walks of life and  a thorough inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international courts of justice to ferret out the truth and to hold accountable those responsible for such wrongdoings.

 

MS. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES

General Secretary-NCCP