The march capped the Media Forum and Launching of the National Task force Bayles (NTFB), a church-based and ecumenical task force committed to battle against the prevailing climate of death and culture of impunity in the Philippines. Obispo Maximo Ephraim Fajutagana personally handed-over a letter to Justice Secretary de Lima to reiterate the Church’s concern to render justice to the extrajudicial killing of Brother Bayles.

Bishop Joselito Cruz, NTFB Chairperson, explained the Task Force is committed to “work for the judicial conviction of those behind the killing of Brother Benjamin Bayles”. He further said that with its creation, the IFI hopes to make concrete steps and contribute in ending the culture of impunity and human rights violations in the country and further encourage participation in the Filipino people’s struggle for justice and peace.

Present during the forum were party-list representatives Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna (BM) and Emilenne Aglipay of Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA). Colmenares and Aglipay assured the Obispo Maximo of their support for judiciary and advocacy work, and lobbying in the congressional Human Rights Committee.

The case of Bayles, unlike thousands of cases on extra-judicial killings, has had assailants apprehended while fleeing from the crime scene, and who, after months of denial, were admitted by the Department of National Defense (DND) to be elements of the Philippine Army. The conviction of Brother Bayles’ killers will further confirm the investigation findings of United Nations Special Rapporteur Phillip Alston about the involvement of the Armed Forces in the killings and disappearances of political activists in the country.