Philippine churches, WCC, UCC condemn slaying of church workers

The United Church of Canada (UCC) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) expressed solidarity with Philippine churches in publicly condemning the recent slaying of two church workers of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). In separate incidents, IFI lay leaders Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin were murdered by suspected paramilitary goons on June 14 in Negros Occidental and June 15 in Ilocos Norte respectively. Both are known active defenders of human rights in their communities.

As IFI Supreme Bishop Godofredo David said in his statement, the IFI has been perceived by the military to be an ‘enemy of the state’ and listed in the ‘echelon of alliances’ with the underground communist movement in the country. This has led to the targetting of IFI priests and church workers, the most high-ranking victim being Bishop Alberto Ramento, former Obispo Maximo of IFI and founding member of Peace for Life.

The UN Rapporteur on Extra-judicial Killings, Philip Alston, has explicitly said in his official report that political slayings are integral to the government’s counter-insurgency strategy and demanded “to eliminate extrajudicial executions from counter-insurgency operations”. There has been however a noticeable surge of politically motivated killings in the Philippines in the last months of the administration of Gloria Arroyo, widely denounced for rampant human rights abuses during her sullied nine-year term.

Posted below are the statements issued by Obispo Maximo Godofredo J. David of IFI and Fr. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), and the letters to the newly-elected Philippine President sent by Omega Bula, executive minister of the UCC Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit, and Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary.

IFI

STOP THE SENSELESS KILLINGS OF CHURCH PEOPLE,
JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS

“With all boldness, as always so now also, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1. 20-21)

We, bishops, priests and faithful of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, are once again pained as two of our lay leaders became victims of the spate of senseless killings in the country. Our hearts bleed as we remember in prayers our brothers Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin, who were both killed for standing firmly for the cause of justice and peace in our land. Benjamin Bayles was a lay minister in the Parish of San Ramon Nonato, and as a committed church worker, he was a District Chairman of the Aglipayan Forum, the Church’s advocacy group, in the Diocese of Negros Occidental. He was an active member of the human rights organization September 21 Movement, and the peasant organization National Federation of Sugar Workers, and also a member of Bayan Muna Partylist. His involvement with the marginalized sector and peasants and workers organizations has earned him the ire of the military who tagged him as a member of the New People’s Army.

On June 14, while waiting for a ride in Himamaylan City, Bayles was attacked by two men wearing helmets on board a black motorcycle. He was shot several times, and when he fell to the ground, the gunmen continue to shoot at him to ensure that he was dead. He was brought to the hospital by was pronounced dead-on-arrival. He had received numerous threats to his life prior to his killing.

Jovelito Agustin was a lay minister in the Parish of Saint Andrew the Apostle, and the Diocesan President of the Laymen of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (LIFI) in the Diocese of Laoag. He was a broadcaster by profession and worked as an anchorman of a local radio program. He was a pro-labor commentator and widely used his radio program to help victims of illegal recruitment in the province.

Agustin was on his way home onboard his motorcycle after an evening broadcast on June 15 when two motorcycle- riding gunmen overtook him along the highway and shot him several times. He died in the hospital where he was rushed to after the shooting. Unidentified gunmen also fired shots at his residence a month ago, and had received death threats prior to his killing.

Our brothers Benjamin and Jovelito both worked for the cause of truth, justice and peace, and for the defence of the rights of the marginalized. They were both killed and now their names are counted in the endless list of victims of extra-judicial killings mainly attributed to state security forces.

They are the latest victim of a systematic attempt to silence the Iglesia Filipina Independiente that is perceived to be an ‘enemy of the state’ and listed in the ‘echelon of alliances’ with the communist movement in the country. Their death clearly points to a re-intensification of political killings and worsening political repression and human rights violations in the Philippines.

We call on the civil society and the international community to bring the issue of political repression and extra-judicial killings, and human rights violations in the country to human rights bodies, most especially to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

We call on human rights defenders in the country, including the Churches, to remain vigilant against this onslaught aimed towards those who work for the cause of justice and peace, for the promotion of civil rights and democratic reforms in the government.

We call on the incoming President to take decisive steps to put a stop on the killings and culture of impunity in the country, and to give justice to all victims of human rights violations. We also ask him to support the people’s call to hold the government of Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo accountable to the numerous cases of political repression and killings in the Philippines under the military’s counter-insurgency policy, Oplan Bantay Laya.

We further challenge the incoming President to hold true in its promise to uphold the people’s democratic rights and to make the Philippine government abide to its commitment to international human rights instruments.

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente has made another precious offering with the death of our brothers Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin. In spite of this, even when our priests and prophets are persecuted and put to death, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente will never waver in faith and will persist in proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Our brothers, Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin, now share the same fate of Father Narciso Pico, Father William Tadena, and Bishop Alberto Ramento, who were brutally murdered for serving the least of our people. In their memory, we continue to steadfastly commit ourselves to the struggle of God’s people for justice and peace.

Pro Deo et Patria,

† THE MOST REVD GODOFREDO J. DAVID, D.D.

Obispo Maximo

Iglesia Filipina Independiente

16th June 2010

NCCP

Press Statement

June 24, 2010

“WOULD THAT. . . YOU KNEW THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE”

A Statement on the killing of Benjamin Bayles and Jovelito Agustin

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) joins the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in denouncing the extrajudicial killing of Mr. Benjamin Bayles in Negros Occidental and Mr. Jovelito Agustin in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Both victims are known in their church as outspoken advocates of human dignity and active lay ministers. Bayles was a known human rights advocate while Agustin was a broadcaster known for his advocacy of workers’ rights. Even as we reach out to the families of Bayles and Agustin in their grief, we join the IFI in demanding justice and a stop to these killings.

The circumstances of their deaths point to the pattern of continuing impunity against progressive organizations and their members, and journalists who raise critical voices. The culture of impunity is so pervasive that, according to Karapatan, from June 1, a month to go before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo steps down, six people were summarily killed, including these two IFI lay leaders. They were killed for espousing the right to live abundant lives – free from the systemic violence of the state. They were killed for standing for the rights of ordinary people. From the perspective of those who ordered their killing, Bayles and Agustin are “enemies of the state”. This is the spirit of Operation Bantay Laya (OBL) the anti-insurgency policy of the state carried out by state security forces. It makes no distinction between armed combatants and civilians engaged in principled dissent. OBL and the resulting extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances are an abomination to democracy and to a country claiming to be a Christian nation. We renounce it and will continue to speak out against it.

How shall we pay homage to this increasing number of victims of extrajudicial killings in the twilight of the current administration and the dawning of a new presidency? How shall justice be rendered to victims and perpetrators? They are not mere statistics. They represent state repression never experienced since the time of martial law. President elect Benigno Aquino III campaigned on a platform of prosecuting perpetrators of human rights violations among others. Vindicate the suffering and the oppressed, Mr. President elect! Stand by your promise and “let justice roll down like a river” and let peace come “like an ever flowing stream”. We urge the incoming president to scrap the OBL and neither adapt nor engage in any similar repressive measures in the future. We also urge the incoming government to make this nation stand unashamedly before the international community. Abide by the Philippine commitments and pledges to international instruments on human rights.

The church in the Philippines stands committed to the primacy of just and lasting peace. The festering issues of poverty, neglect and corruption in high places have long remained barriers to a just and lasting peace. Beyond the political colors is the pressing demand to address the roots of dissent through a government that is compassionate and caring to its citizens. This is the call of the church.

As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it saying “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace”. (Luke 19.41) We grieve not only for the loss of sons and daughters, husbands and wives but also for the never‐ending violence. We bear witness that we are now being hemmed in on every side, and dashed to the stone by the dark principalities and powers of this country and the world that seek to perpetuate violence and oppression upon this land. We urge our partners and people of peace around the world to listen to our testimony and join us in prayer, hope and work for the better condition we deserve and which we know can happen.

(SGD) Rev. Rex RB Reyes, Jr.

General Secretary

National Council of Churches in the Philippines

June 22, 2010

AN OPEN LETTER TO PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT
BENIGNO AQUINO III

Omega Bula

Executive Minister – Justice, Global and Ecumenical Relations Unit

The United Church of Canada

June 30, 2010

The United Church of Canada offers our prayers for God’s sustaining courage to the people of the Philippines at this time of change as they witness, on June 30th 2010, the inauguration of President Benigno Aquino III as President of their beloved country. We pray for the new President that God blesses him with wisdom needed for the healing of the many wounds he will inherit from his predecessor.

We have accompanied our partners in the Philippines in the struggle for justice and peace and an end to the blatant human rights violations. We urge President Aquino to use the resources and powers of his office to realize the vision of a Philippines in which all people live in human dignity and enjoy their basic rights and freedoms. We bring to his attention our grave concern about the dismal state of human rights in the country.

1. The extrajudicial killings of two lay leaders of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (Philippine Independent Church), Benjamin Bayles and Joselito Agustin, journalists Desiderio Camangyan and Nestor Bedolido, a labour union leader, Edward Panganiban and farmers Julio Etang and Borromeo Cabilis in the month prior to the President’s inauguration greatly disturb us.

The circumstances of the killings point to the pattern of political killings that marked the past administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. We share the concern of partners that extrajudicial killings appear to be re-intensified during the transition to the new administration of President Aquino, who pledged to prosecute human rights violators and ensure that commitments to international human rights standards are honoured.

2. We call on President Aquino to immediately end the counter-insurgency campaign, Operation Plan Bantay Laya (OBL). The United Nations Special Rapporteur, Philip Alston, and human rights organizations point to the counter-insurgency strategy of outgoing President Macapagal as the root cause of the extrajudicial killings (EJK) that have claimed the lives of more 1000 Filipinos. Operation Plan Bantay Laya is a grave threat to the human rights of Filipinos. This counter-insurgency policy makes no distinction between armed insurgents and civilians who exercise their right to dissent. It legitimizes the targeting of citizens who protest against government policies and actions that fail to promote the welfare and rights of the people by making them “enemies of the state”

3. We call on President Aquino to take immediate steps to undertake independent and impartial investigation and speedy prosecution of the perpetrators of the killing of Bayles, Agustin, Panganiban, Camangyan, Etang and Cabilis.

To date, not one case of extrajudicial killing has been successfully prosecuted. Extrajudicial killings will not be effectively stopped as long as those who perpetrate them are granted impunity. We urge President Aquino to a) immediately order the investigation of all the reported cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances since 2001 and b) to hasten the prosecution of those responsible for these crimes.

4. We call on President Aquino to immediately release the Morong 43 detainees and all political detainees.

These killings, enforced disappearances and illegal arrests and detention are the consequences of the continued conduct of Oplan Bantay Laya.

5. Here in Canada, we shall continue to urge the Canadian Government, to send a formal observer mission to the Philippines within the next three to six months to look into the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation and to monitor measures taken by the new administration of President Aquino to address the problem. We shall continue to call for the suspension of all forms of support to the Philippine military, whether financial, training, or through the sales of military equipment until concrete actions are taken to put an end to the Oplan Bantay Laya campaign and stop the extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detentions.

			World Council of Churches Conseil œcuménique des Eglises Consejo Mundial de Iglesias Ökumenischer Rat der Kirchen General Secretariat
Postal address: Visiting address: Phone: Fax: General e-mail: Website: Direct dial: Direct e-mail: Direct fax:		P.O. Box 2100 CH-1211 Geneva 2 Switzerland 150 route de Ferney (+41-22) 791 61 11 (+41-22) 791 03 61 www.wcc-coe.org http://www.oikoumene.org/ (+41-22) 791 6285 dcbwcc-coe.org (+41-22) 791 6535	HE President Benigno Aquino III Office of the President Malacañan Palace Republic of the Philippines Philippines Geneva, 30 June 2010

Your Excellency,

The World Council of Churches (WCC) joins the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) in denouncing the extra-judicial killings of Mr. Benjamin Bayles in Negros Occidental and Mr. Jovelito Agustin in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. Both victims were active lay ministers, known in their churches as outspoken advocates of human dignity and of the rights of the most marginalized. Bayles was a human rights advocate, involved with peasants’ and workers’ organizations, while Agustin was a broadcaster actively engaged in assisting victims of illegal recruitment and defending workers’ rights.

We are deeply concerned by the ongoing extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and continuing impunity in the Philippines that have caused the lives of many civilians who raise their voices denouncing human rights violations and asking for justice and lasting peace. Lay people and clergy have not been spared from this violence. These practices are directly against the principles of democracy, the Philippine Constitution and International Conventions, to which Philippines is a party.

It is for these reasons, Your Excellency, that the World Council of Churches would like to urge the Philippines government to keep its commitment to international human rights instruments and put an end to the killings and to the culture of impunity by prosecuting the perpetrators and granting justice to the victims of human rights violations committed in the country.

It is a tragedy that lives have been taken and cannot be restored. For you and your ministers now to ensure that the killings cease would send a welcome signal to your people and to the international community about the standards that the new government will pursue. Our prayer is that the rule of law will prevail in the Philippines and that your government will become known for building peace and establishing justice.

Yours faithfully,

Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit

General Secretary

cc:

Atty. Agnes Devanadera, Secretary, Department of Justice

HE Norberto Gonzales, Secretary, Department of National Defense

Atty. Leila De Lima, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

The Most Revd Godofredo JH. David, D.D. Obispo Maximo, Iglesia Filipina Independiente

Download printable versions of the statements:

IFI Statement 10-0616 (PDF, 36 kb)
NCCP Statement 10-0622 (PDF, 190 kb)
UCC letter to Benigno Aquino III 10-0630 (PDF, 247 kb)
WCC letter to Benigno Aquino III 10-0630 (PDF, 55 kb)