Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights
BC Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
Press Statement

Canadian Solidarity and Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Killing of Bishop Remento in the Philippines

October 5, 2006

The Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR) and the British Columbia for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP) are grief stricken and vehemently condemn the brutal killing of Bishop Maximo Alberto Ramento, a bishop of the poor, a staunch peace advocate and human rights defender from the dark days of Marcos’ regime to the present murderous Arroyo government.

Bishop Ramento, 69, chair of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Philippine Independent Church (PIC) or  Iglesia Filipina Independiente, also known as the Aglipayan Church, was stabbed to death on October 3rd 2006 at 3:00 a.m. inside his convent room in Tarlac province.

Less than a year before he was killed, Bishop Alberto Ramento had confirmed that his name had been listed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFPs) Order of Battle (OB). One of those who confirmed Ramento’s inclusion in the military Order of Battle was an Army officer who had ties with the PIC and was concerned over the bishop’s safety. Bishop Ramento had talked openly about his being on the Order of Battle. “I’m on the OB and if anything bad happens to me, you have an idea of who wanted me killed,” he was reported as saying. The bishop also alerted his family about receiving threats because of his uncompromising stand for national sovereignty and patrimony.

PCTFHR and BCCHRP concur with the IFI council’s claim that Bishop Ramento’s death may be politically-motivated. Ramento was a member of the Citizens Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) and participated in the hearings looking into the accountability of President Gloria Arroyo for electoral fraud, human rights violations and graft and corruption. Ramento was also part of the Monitoring Group in the Peace Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

We condemn the institutions and individuals that are responsible for this unspeakable atrocity. The fascist agents of President Gloria Arroyo make no exception in killing church people who practice the preferential option for the poor. Several pastors of Protestant churches have been killed under the Arroyo regime. Not even high-ranking religious leaders are spared from this wave of state-sponsored terrorism against the people, despite calls from within and outside the country to stop the killings.
 
Truly, the death of Bishop Ramento is a great loss not only for the PIC but also for the ecumenical movement and peoples' organizations.  Let his life and death find meaning in our continuing resolve to create a peaceful and just society to which Bishop Ramento dedicated his life.

PCTFHR and BCCHRP strongly urge the authorities to immediately conduct a thorough and impartial investigation regarding the murder of Bishop Ramento and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.

October 5, 2006

Issued by:

Philippines-Canada Task Force on Human Rights (PCTFHR)
British Columbia for Human Rights in the Philippines (BCCHRP)

For more information, please contact Beth Dollaga at ph: 604-215-1905 or e-mail: bcchrp@kalayaancentre.net