We, the Administrators of the Catholic Educational Association of Legazpi or CEAL for short, stand firm in our denouncement of the extra-judicial killings, forced disappearances, and harassment against the peace advocates, media personnel, citizens, and activists.

Such actions violate the dignity of life and rights of a person. It is against the teaching of Christ and the Church on the importance of the human person.

The findings of both the Melo Commission, a commission created by Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself, tagged a small group of military men as responsible for some of the crimes. This was affirmed in the report of Professor Phillip Alston, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on extrajudicial summary or arbitrary executions, on the AFP's state of almost total denial in its response to the Melo Report. Even some US Senators noticed the insufficient action on these killings by the government.

Yet, there is a continuous denial of the findings of these reports.

As educators we want our young to value life and respect the rights of others. We commit ourselves to educate our young people to be responsible citizen in caring for the lives of others.

For and in behalf of the CEAL Administrators

Fr. Francisco Estepa, SVD
CEAL, President

Read by Bro. Lawrence Llona, DWCL Student Affairs Office (SAO) Coordinator during the Urulay sa Sirungan: A Regional Church People’s Conference on Extra-Judicial Killings, March 17, 2007, AVR Divine Word College of Legazpi, Legazpi City.