COMMEMORATION OF I.F.I. BISHOP MARTYRDOM: A MILLION VOICES FOR JUSTICE
TARLAC CITY, OCTOBER 3, 2011 (FROM I.F.I.) "But let justice roll on like rivers,
and righteousness like a mighty stream." (Amos 5.24)
A MILLION VOICES FOR JUSTICE: STOP POLITICAL KILLINGS, END IMPUNITY IN THE PHILIPPINES
WE COMMEMORATE today, October 3, 2011, the martyrdom of Bishop Alberto
B. Ramento, ninth Obispo Maximo of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.
Five years have passed since that fateful morning when his lifeless body was found in his lowly rectory at San Sebastian Parish, Tarlac City. Indignation consumed our hearts as we begun to unearth pieces of evidence which indicated that Bishop Ramento had fallen victim to extrajudicial killings.
We raised our voices in protest but, strangely, our prayers for justice were never heard of those who are in power.
WE JOIN OUR VOICES, in our persevering quest for justice for the killings of Bishop Ramento; and Father William Tadena and Brother Benjamin Bayles, with the thousands of victims of human rights violations under Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's rule.
With one voice, we now strongly call on President Benigno Aquino III to support the elusive quest of those thousands of families of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances for justice.
WE LAMENT that gross human rights violations - killings, abductions, torture, illegal arrests and detention - continue to run unabated to this day under President Aquino's administration. Political killings and enforced disappearances are carried on with impunity as no one has been brought to court for human rights violations.
WE DEMAND President Aquino not to tolerate the perpetrators of human rights violations who continue to run free without fear of criminal liability. We challenge him to prove his words that "cases of extrajudicial killings need to be solved, not just identify
the perpetrators but have them captured and sent to jail."
WE THEREFORE STRONGLY CALL upon President 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 RT REVD JOSELITO T. CRUZ
General Secretary
3rd October 2011
Good day!
[PHOTO - IFI Bishop Ramento Killed: TARLAC CITY — Obispo Maximo IX Alberto Ramento of the Iglesia Filipino Independiente (IFI) was killed early morning today by still-unidentified assailants in his church in Tarlac City. Highly regarded as a progressive religious leader, Bishop Ramento has condemned attacks on leaders of activist organizations since 2001, among them Fr. William Tadena, IFI who was ambushed on March 13, 2005 by what activists now call as "death squads." -IFI BISHOP SLAIN, OCTOBER 2, 2006 from
the INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER]
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Central Luzon (Bayan-CL) in an SMS statement dubbed the killing as a "brazen attack on a peace-loving church leader," calling it further as a "damnable imprint of a dictatorship."
A fact-finding mission led by the human rights group Karapatan is now on its way to Tarlac City. Gitnang Luson News Service
Sharing with you Iglesia Filipina Independiente`s Press Statement and Letter to Secretary De Lima on the occasion of the 5th Year Commemoration of the Political Killing of Bp. Alberto Ramento.
"A Million Voices for Justice: End Political Killings and Impunity"
Launching of a nationwide signature campaign to seeking justice for victims of extra-judicial killings and political oppression
IFI National Cathedral, 1500 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila
October 3, 2011; 2:00 p.m.
Justice for Fr. William Tadena and Benjamine Bayles of the IFI! Justice for all victims of political killings!
10 AM ADVOCACY MARCH TO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
2 – 5PM LITURGICAL FORUM
- LAUNCHING OF ONE MILLION VOICES FOR JUSTICE SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN
"Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice; and let the oppressed go free." Isaiah 58:6
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