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Letter of Concern from
The Roman Catholic Bicol Bishops regarding
the Endless Extra-Judicial Killings in Bicol |
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Life and dignity of every citizen must be upheld, defended and promoted
by a civilized, God-fearing and democratic country. This is the
very foundation that every faith and institution stood for – LIFE
and DIGNITY.
We, the member-Bishops of the Roman Catholic Bicol Bishop’s
Conference are deeply alarmed by the endless extra-judicial killings in
the entire Bicol Region. Countless civilians and members of
militant organizations become victims of these motorcycle-hooded
murderous assassins that kill with impunity. Orphans and widows
in our dioceses grow in numbers day by day. The trauma and scars
of loss of every Christian family will never heal, rather will further
be aggravated by the seemingly impregnabable wall of inaction from the
authorities and agencies.
Let it not be forgotten that these people cried out loud to the high
heavens that even Non-Christian countries heeded and demanded that
these vicious extra-judicial killings must end. International
instrumentalities, countries and groups such as United Nations (UN),
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), European Union (EU), Asian Human
Rights Committee (AHRC), US Congress and Senate, and World Council of
Churches (WCC) have emphatically called for the respect of life, stop
the extra-judicial killings and justice for the victims. No less
that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial, Summary
or Arbitrary Executions Prof. Alston himself stated in his report that
“extra-judicial killings in the Philippines is a sad
reality. It is an affront to human rights and it is being
continuously commited with even greater impunity.”
It must be recalled that Bicol Region has been tagged as one of the
priority areas of the “total-war counter-insurgency plan”
of the national government. It is lamentable that “more
firepower and militarist approach” has been chosen to resolve
civil strife that torn this country. But history proves that it
has never yielded victory rather more death to civilians and
destruction of livelihood. To date, there are 138 victims of
extra-judicial killings in the entire Bicol Region, with Sorsogon
topping region with ___ victims.
Thus, we the member-Bishops of the Roman Catholic Bicol Bishop’s
Conference condemn the endless extra-judicial killings in the Bicol
Region.
We stand firm on the teachings of the church that “life must
never be violated for it is an inalienable right given to man by
God.” Plurality of ideological persuassions is a sign of
the diverse charater of our society, thus all people must be accorded
his or her basic inalienable human rights.
Not that the Church claims to know all the solutions to society’s
ills. Rather, in situations of tyranny where human existence and
survival are not only under threat but also under assault, the Church
must stand her ground, uncompromising and courageous in exposing the
evil designs wherever they comes from.
We further reiterate the Statement of Catholic Bishops’
Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) last May 31, 2006 that “it
is not right that people be killed simply because they have different
‘political beliefs’ or are suspected of being
‘subversives’ or plotting against the government”.
Seen and understood in the foregoing terms, the defense and promotion
of human rights takes center stage in the apostolate in the Bicol
Region. Where the imago dei in persons is tarnished or violated, the
Church has vehemently raised her voice of condemnation. It is for this
reason that the Bicol Bishops in the region has found common cause in
the unequivocal resistance to extrajudicial killings, enforced
disappearances, harassments and other forms of political persecution
under the watch of President Gloria M. Arroyo.
In one voice and in collegiality with other Brother-Bishops, we call for:
1. Stop the extra-judicial killings in the region;
2. Implement Comprehensive Agreement for the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL);
3. Cease and review the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya I & II;
4. Bring to justice the perpetrators and the officers-in-charge by virtue of command responsibility;
5. Surface the desaparicidos; and
6. Resume the Peace Negotiations between Government of the Republic of
the Philippines (GRP) and National Democratic Front of the Philippines
(NDFP).
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