Fact-Finding Mission to Investigate -
Extrajudicial Killings in the Philippines

Report from Church Sector
10 September 2006

Background

More than 700 are now dead because they saw the problems in their country and sought changes. Among the victims were 21 church workers, including 9 pastors and a priest. Meanwhile, a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente and his wife survived an assassination attempt and there are also church workers who received death threats and faced harassments by persons believed to be connected with the military of police.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19)

All of the victims share a lot in common. They lent their voices to the clamor of the poor and the vulnerable. They were human rights advocates, members of progressive organizations, and vocal critics against militarization, logging, mining and other projects deemed by the locals as destructive to the environment or threats to their livelihoods. These church people are killed or threatened because they transform their faith into concerns for the society. They follow Jesus not to compromise with the oppressors and speak for justice. They also remind us of the mission of the Church.

Cases

Fr. William Tedena of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was one of the victims. He was killed near his church by two masked men on motorcycles in March 2005. He had been supporting the peasant beneficiaries of the Hacienda Luisita to claim their land which was promised under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Programme. He supported the peasants by supplying rice to them. In his sermons, he strongly condemned the abuse of power from the military in region. Even though there were seven striking peasants who were shot to death by the police and military during a protest in November 2004, and others peasants’ leaders and supporters were killed afterwards, Fr. William was not terrorized. He kept speaking up for the poor until his death.

Rev. Fr. Eleuterio "Terry" J. Revollido is a priest from the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) He is also the Chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – BAYAN (New Patriotic Alliance) in Pangasinan province, the Philippines. Fr. Terry's vice chairman Mr. Mariano Sepnio and his General Secretary, Mr. Jose Doton were killed in March and May 2006 respectively. Recently, Fr. Terry was informed by his neighbours that there were suspicious looking men on motorcycles seemingly scanning the seminary and that there was also unusual movements of men for successive nights who spent some hours standing close to the seminary. Although his personal security is under threat, he refused to leave the country as he cannot give up his work in the church and also the BAYAN.

Sometime ago, the military showed to members of the Philippine media a powerpoint presentation called, "Knowing the Enemy: Are We Missing the Point." It identified churches and church organizations as targets of the "enemies of the state" for infiltration and control, including the Promotion of Church People's Response, the Gomburza, the Sisters Association in Mindanao, the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, the Catholic Bishop's Conference of the Philippines' Secretariat for Social Action Centers, the Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace, the Philippine Independent Church (PIC), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, the United Council of Churches in the Philippines (UCCP), the United Methodist Church of the Philippines (UMCP).

Among the 21 victims, many were from the UCCP and the PIC and the latest victim, The Rev. Isaias Sta. Rosa who was killed on 3 August 2006, was from the United Methodist Church of the Philippines.

Religious Reflection

Under the wave of killings and harassments, church leaders condemned and to continue to condemn the ongoing and escalating killings in the country. The church does not cease their help to the grassroots people and provide protection to the victims' families.

"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:17) The Filipino brothers and sisters are showing their spirituality by struggling for justice. They devote themselves to the poor. While saying "let there peace on earth," we can make peace by showing our solidarity in their distress human rights situation.

Our Filipino friends are calling for support from Hong Kong as well as international society. It is important to exert pressure on the Philippine government to stop the human rights violations in the Philippines. We can support by writing letters to the government. We should add our voices to those of the Filipino people and others around the world: The killings must stop now!

A refugee center for victims of human rights violations needs also our support.

Demands

Fr. Dwight Q. dela Torre, St John's Cathedral

Hong Kong Christian Institute

Justice and Peace Commission of Catholic Diocese