DEMOCRATIC SPACE
For Genuine Truth and Justice
We speak with
deep sorrow and loss as we learned of the senseless killing of our bishop,
The Most Rev. Alberto B. Ramento, D.D. He is a man of strong will and
logic, with deep passion and courage that earned him the humble honor and
respect of an enigmatic minister of the poor people, champion against
tyranny, injustice and corruption.
Behind that
seemingly stern face is a loving and selfless father not only to his own
children but to every lay and priest in the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
He has been an exemplary figure worthy to be called a true Christian.
But popular as
he may be among the majority poor and oppressed, he has also earned the
ire of those whose greed and power he has questioned. He has embodied
the IFI’s prophetic call Para Sa Diyos at Para Sa Bayan, For God
and Country in every deed and in every word up to his last breath. For
indeed, in his speech in one of the forum, “there
is no greater love than to shed one last drop of your blood for your
beloved people”.
We strongly
disagree with the PNP’s insistent report that robbery is the main purpose
of his cruel death. With the presentation of four suspected killers, PNP
concluded that the CASE IS CLOSED. It has been known in the church
community and his family that the good bishop has long received death
threats and harassment due to his support in the struggle of the Hacienda
Luisita workers, his condemnation to human rights violations and
extra-judicial killings of political activists, and his being critical to
Charter Change, dictatorial rule, electoral fraud and corruption.
To regard this
as a simple case of robbery left more rooms of questions unanswered.
Bishop Ramento is a very simple man living a very simple life. So, how can
a simply clad bishop spared of jewels, own transportation and living in an
old, dilapidated church (which incidentally has no regular sacramental
services with its choir loft serving as the bishop’s sleeping quarter) be
a target of allegedly killers out to loot for wealth? Though we do not
want the same incident to happen to others, but why not the nearby
establishments who have more resources that can lure robbers? If not
political motives, what other purpose for the sake of argument has brought
this inhuman act to our beloved bishop?
The message is
clear. THOSE WHO SHOW DISSENT WILL BE SILENCED. The killing of Fr. William
Tadena (Tarlac), the frustrated murder of Fr. Allan Caparro and wife
Aileen(Samar), the harassment of Fr. Terry
Revollido (Dean of Aglipay Central Theological Seminary in Pangasinan);
Fr. Romeo Tagud (Negros Occidental); Fr. Marco Sulayao (Iloilo); Fr. Sonny
Teleron (Western Mindanao), Fr. Mario Quince (Bulacan), Fr. Renato
Respicio (Nueva Ecija) and just yesterday, October 7, Fr. Antonio Ablon
(Northern Mindanao) and others strongly and clearly convey this message.
Aside from being church leaders, with their resolute commitment in serving
the poor, oppressed and exploited, they are equally active in ecumenical
forums and have strong sense of solidarity with the basic sectors and
people’s organizations. There is no doubt that their names have
been included in the list of the Order of Battle for the harassments they
continuously experience. But for us, the youth, they are our co-journeyer
and inspiration as we continue to seek life in its fullness.
In
our quest for justice and truth, we condemn in our strongest term, the
brutal killing of our beloved Bishop Alberto B. Ramento and all victims of
extra-judicial killings. The Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
urge President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to look deeper into this case and
to all other cases of extra-judicial killings. We are consistently one
with the whole church and with the family and friends of Bp. Alberto B.
Ramento in our resolved stand to seek genuine truth and justice, and
amidst fear and danger, continue to work for peace.
Reference:
Donna Lou S. Galingan
National President
Youth of the the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Contact# 09227042864
Posted
by Bulatlat
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