Liturgical Commemoration and Forum against Political Killings and Impunity Mark Fifth Death Anniversary of Bishop Alberto Ramento

 

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente marked the fifth death anniversary of its ninth Obispo Maximo, the Most Reverend Alberto B. Ramento, on October 3, 2011 at the Church’s National Cathedral, with a renewed call for justice.

 

Bishop Ramento, who was an advocate of just peace, was slain in October 2006 in his rectory at Tarlac City. The Philippine National Police (PNP) dismissed the killing as a case of simple robbery with homicide. The Church, contesting the PNP’s declaration, strongly holds that the bishop’s death constitutes a case of extrajudicial killing.

 

Bishops of the South-Central Luzon Conference held a Church Leaders’ March for Justice in the morning from the National Cathedral to the Department of Justice for an audience with Secretary Leila de Lima. Farm workers from Hacienda Luisita and other human rights defenders from the ecumenical community and peoples’ organizations joined the advocacy march.

 

The Most Reverend Ephraim S. Fajutagana, 12^th Obispo Maximo, hand-carried a letter to the Office of the Justice Secretary that contains an appeal for a reinvestigation on Bishop Ramento’s brutal slaying.

 

Bishop Ronelio Fabriquier, Chairperson of the South-Central Luzon Bishops’ Conference, stated the imperative for a reinvestigation. The bishop said he believes a reinvestigation could pave the way toward the punishment of the real killers of Bishop Ramento, which will contribute in the peoples’ efforts toward ending impunity in the country.

 

More than three hundred people human rights defenders the Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP), United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), Iglesia UNIDA Ekyumenikal, United Methodist Church (UMC), and other members of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), gathered at the National Cathedral in the afternoon for the Liturgical Commemoration and Forum against Political Killings and Impunity.

Members of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF), Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response (PCPR), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) and Peace for Life were also present to express their support for the Church’s call for justice for Bishop Ramento.

 

Sandra Besenio from IBON Research Foundation, Rey Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center, Jigs Clamor from KARAPATAN, Rey Cortez from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, and Reverend Terry Revollido, served as the forum resource persons.

 

The Obispo Maximo led the ceremonial signing of the Church’s nationwide signature drive “A Million Voices for Justice: Stop Political Killings, End Impunity in the Philippines” before the end of the gathering. The campaign, which aims to gather one million signatures, calls for President Benigno Aquino to prosecute the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the numerous gross human rights violations it has committed; to stop extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, and enforced disappearances; and to end impunity in the country with the legal conviction of perpetrators of human rights violations.

 

The Obispo Maximo, in his concluding remarks, challenged the bishops, priests, lay people, human rights defenders and advocates present to persevere in the quest for justice for all victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances in the country, and to stand firmly for their democratic and human rights amid state terrorism and military rule.