We welcome the issuance of warrants of arrest for Ret. Major General Jovito Palparan, Lt. Col. Felipe Anotado, Master Sergeant Rizal Hilario, and Staff Sergeant Edgardo Osorio for charges of kidnapping and serious illegal detention of our daughters, Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeno.

The Department of Justice resolution finding probable cause against them on these charges is a product of our arduous and persevering struggle for justice and to end impunity in the country. For us, it also signifies the start of a long and rigorous trial to hold Palparan and other human rights violators accountable.

Such impunity is wrought by the brazen commission of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other forms of human rights violations under the Macapagal-Arroyo regime. Such violations continue with impunity to this date under the Aquino administration, which has been remiss in pursuing justice for the victims and has sustained the same kind of counter-insurgency measure which terrorizes and wantonly violates human rights.

We emphasize that this significant victory is to the credit of the victims of human rights violations and their kin, the survivor-witnesses, human rights defenders, the people’s movement and the freedom-loving Filipino people – we who have kept and held the torch of justice flaming even during the darkest hours.

We call on our kababayans to help us continue this journey to achieve justice. We call on the public, with the warrants of arrest issued against Palparan et al, to join us in this peoples’ manhunt to ensure that he and his cohorts be immediately arrested, put to jail and prosecuted for the grave human rights violations they committed. We urge you to remain one with us in demanding that Karen, Sherlyn and all victims of enforced disappearances be surfaced.

We shall remain steadfast in our struggle for justice and realization of human rights in the country, as we make all human rights violators, including former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and top civil, military and police officials accountable for their high crimes against the people.###

From Desaparecidos

Reference: Michael Luat, Chairperson, SFCHRP
E-mail: mic1artivista@gmail.com

Reference: Yoko Liriano, Coordinator, NYCHRP
E-mail: ytliriano@gmail.com

New York and San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines Call For Human Rights For the 99%

Advance the Struggle for Human rights in the Philippines, U.S. , and all over the World!

New York and San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines commemorated the 63rd annual International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011.  With the skyrocketing statistics of human rights violations in the Philippines, Latin America, and even in the United States, NYCHRP and SFCHRP see the need to take the stand for human rights, not just for the privileged few, but for the 99% who are politically and socially oppressed due to the increase of state repression.

The Occupy movement  in the U.S. and around the world sharply articulates the financial inequities and mobilizes across class lines of the 99%. In return these inequities cause oppression and give rise to human rights abuses both in the U.S. and abroad. The rise in state political repression and human rights violations is a result of a global monopoly capitalist corporate system that protects the interests of a 1% financial oligarchy.

In San Francisco, SFCHRP marched along with Occupy activists and organizers and activists from several alliances, such as the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), the Ecumenical Forum on Filipino Concerns (EFFCON) and their allies the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) and the Progressive Workers Alliance (PWA) through the busy crowds of holiday shoppers and tourists in San Francisco’s Financial District. SFCHRP members declared their solidarity and pledge to uphold human rights for the people’s resistance movements around the world and the Occupy movement for systemic change.

During the Human Rights for the 99% rally progressive Filipino organizations expressed how activism in the Philippines could cost you your life due to the military listing of names on the order of battle list, targeting those whom lash out at the governments lack  of upholding the basic human rights of the people. Michael Luat, from San Francisco Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines said, “In contradiction of the economic crisis, the U.S. sends our taxes dollars of $32 million annually in military aid to the Philippines to fund the “War on Terror”, counter-insurgency programs modeled after the U.S. Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO), and   military training for counter-terrorist activities. On the other hand they claim to have no money to fund services for people here. Furthermore, peaceful protests on our school campuses and on our streets are increasingly ending in police initiated brutality and violence blamed on U.S. citizens exercising their constitutional rights.”

In New York City, NYCHRP, along with several other endorsing groups like the International Action Center, BAYAN USA, May 1st Coalition, and others, took to the iconic red stairs in Times Square in New York City for an action to bring attention to the need to organize for human rights.  Participants handed out glow sticks to signify “Lights for Rights” and used the people’s mic to address the human rights situation in the US and the Philippines.

Jose Martin, a staunch activist from the Occupy Wall Street Movement said, “the movement is not asking for a laundry list of demands that the government can just check off– it is about creating a new system out of our own creativity!  A just society with regards to human rights and general welfare!”

Lights for Rights also highlighted the case of the May 2009 abduction and torture of Fil-Am activist, Melissa Roxas.  Yoko Liriano, from the New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines said, “since her release in 2009, Melissa Roxas, one of our own!– has yet to find justice for the gruesome atrocities committed against her.  We must remember all the victims of human rights violations and keep fighting because the fascist regimes will not stop.  We need to organize and build the strongest and broadest people’s movement to combat them!”

Both NYCHRP and SFCHRP condemns the U.S. Senate for passing of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill due to the erosion of human rights. Based on suspicion alone the bill will allow U.S. military to imprison any person  indefinitely, including U.S. citizens, without charge or trial.

SFCHRP and NYCHRP is urging the 99% to tell Congress to vote NO on this bill entitled the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) containing these provisions that violate constitutional rights of people in America.  We strongly encourage communities to take action now by signing the American Civil Liberties Union petition below or at www.tinyURL.com/notoindefinitedetention because the rights and welfare of the 99% is in jeopardy.

The peoples’ movements in the Philippines, US, and all over the world will continue to expose and oppose the imperialist-motivated 1% and their crimes against the people.  As key human rights organizations in the struggle for true democracy and human rights in the Philippines we call for the persecution of the human rights violators in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police and for justice to all human rights victims and for Melissa Roxas.  We stand in solidarity with the Occupy movement and we will continue to fight for comprehensive human rights for the 99%.  As long as there is inequality and class oppression, the oppressed majority will fight for and defend our inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms!

###

UA No: 2011-11-01

Account of the Incident:

On the afternoon of November 8, 2011, while Karapatan coordinator Jose Luis Blanco was resting at the office after a field work, he received a call on his cellphone from an unregistered number (09095596583).

The male caller asked if he is  speaking to Jose Luis Blanco. After confirming that he is Blanco, the caller then burst out in a barrage of anti-communist monologue. The caller accused Blanco of being a member of the New People’s Army, and a “God-less automaton of Jose Maria Sison in the Netherlands. The caller threatened Blanco that he will be sexually abused and stabbed to death. The caller also warned that “they” know where Blanco is, and that “they” would have him killed.

Shocked at the caller’s tirade, Blanco could only mutter “ok” during the two-minute call.

When the phone was disconnected, the perpetrator called again.But Blanco turned off his phone. Blanco later reported the incident to the local police.

On November 21, the perpetrator called again, but Blanco did not answer.

Since 2008, Blanco has been receiving threats and harassment because of his human rights work. His person has been vilified on numerous occasion by the 79^th Infantry Battalion. He was also falsely charged of kidnapping, direct assault, and more recently, of violation of the Negros Oriental provincial ordinance that regulates the conduct of fact-finding missions.

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:

1. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into threat, harassment and intimidation of Jose Luis Blanco.
2. The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
3. The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innnocent and unarmed civillians
4. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.

You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III

President of the Republic

Malacañang Palace,

JP Laurel St., San Miguel

Manila Philippines

Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80

Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968

E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)

7th Floor Agustin Building I

Emerald Avenue

Pasig City 1605

Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066

Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216

osec@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin

Secretary, Department of National Defense

Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,

E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City

Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488

Fax:+63(2) 911 6213

Email: osnd@philonline.com

Atty. Leila De Lima

Secretary, Department of Justice

Padre Faura St., Manila

Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721

Trunkline  523-84-81 loc.214

Fax: (+632) 521-1614

Email:  soj@doj.gov.ph

Hon.  Loretta Ann P. Rosales

Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

SAAC Bldg., UP Complex

Commonwealth Avenue

Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188

Fax: (+632) 929 0102

Email:   chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:

Karapatan

LIGHTS FOR RIGHTS
International Human Rights Day
December 10, 2011
Times Square
(Red Stairs on 47th and Broadway)

Assemble at 4:40pm
Program at 4:59 SHARP

Bring your banners, signs, blue glowsticks, flyers– demand for human rights!

Endorse Lights for Rights NYC—Commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011

REFERENCE: Yoko Liriano (New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines; Coordinator) 808-216-7191; ytliriano@gmail.com; www.NYCHRP.info; www.lights4rights.org

Greetings of peace,

This year, International Human Rights Day comes at a time when a national movement for economic equality and fairness is spreading across the US. As people from all walks of life in the US unite against corporate greed, let us also remember the millions of civilians around the world whose lives have been taken by US military and counter-insurgency operations throughout history such as Operation Condor in South America, Operation Brother Sam in Brazil, Operation Phoenix in Vietnam, Operation Enduring Freedom in the Philippines and countless other covert CIA operations in Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Under Obama, war, militarism and counter-insurgency continue to be an integral part of US foreign policy to ensure the protection and advancement of the US corporate minority’s interests worldwide.

Here in the belly of the beast, we see the effects of this minority interest through the siphoning of public funds for war, militarism, and counter-insurgency, instead of investing in jobs, our education, housing, healthcare and our other basic human needs. At the same time, the state answers growing public outcry and resistance with intensifying political repression and the denial of civil rights.

Human rights encompass ALL facets of rights which shall remain inalienable according to the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We are calling on all those who firmly believe in human rights to commemorate International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2011. Join us as we fill the streets with flowing candlelight in honor of all those who have fought for their rights. Call for justice for those taken victim to human rights violations.

All people have the inalienable right to:
-Life, Liberty, Dignity, and Security
-Freedom of Ideas, Belief, Expression, and Assembly
-Humane Treatment
-Adequate Land, Food, Shelter, Health Care, and Education
-A Living Wage Job, Means of Livelihood, and Decent Working Conditions
-Due Process
-Freedom from oppression and exploitation

Lights for Rights NYC aims to unite all those who stand for equal civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of all people, not just for the privileged.

JUSTICE FOR ALL VICTIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS! ##
END TORTURE! ##
SURFACE THE DISAPPEARED! ##
FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS! ##
STOP FBI AND GOVERNMENT REPRESSION! ##
LEGALIZATION FOR ALL! ##
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING! ##
WORKERS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS! ##
MONEY FOR JOBS AND EDUCATION, NOT FOR WAR AND OCCUPATION! ##
US TROOPS OUT##
END ALL WARS OF IMPERIALIST AGGRESSION! ##

New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (NYCHRP) is a NYC-based grassroots community organization that shares the vision of human rights advanced by the growing mass movement for social justice in the Philippines. NYCHRP engages in advocacy work to educate, organize and mobilize Filipinos and solidarity allies to take progressive action in upholding and supporting human rights of Filipinos and all people throughout the world.

To endorse the Lights for Rights (individual leader or organization), go to www.LIGHTS4RIGHTS.org.

To become an individual or organizational member of Lights for Rights, send an e-mail to: ytliriano@gmail.com.

Report from Fact Finding Mission of Fr. Fausto

Proposed Resolution for House of Representatives Regarding Fr. Fausto

Justice for Father Pops!

References:
Jun Cruz, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), info@nafconusa.org;
Jackelyn Mariano, BAYAN USA Northeast, bayanusa.ne@gmail.com

Human Trafficking Continues Under Aquino Administration, US Watchlist Ranking Deceiving
Fil-Ams Call for Investigation, Shutdown of Trafficking Operations

Filipino-Americans under the banners of two national alliances– the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and BAYAN USA– are joining forces and calling for broad multi-ethnic cooperation and support to stop the epidemic of labor trafficking, a form of human trafficking, from developing countries such as the Philippines to the United States. They state the Philippines so-called improved ranking on the US Watchlist of countries on Human Trafficking is deceiving and hypocritical as aggressive labor trafficking operations from the Philippines to the US continues under the administration of Philippine President Benigno S. “PNoy” Aquino III.

Under the joint campaign initiative “Communities United Against Labor Trafficking” the two alliances are calling attention to the government-facilitated Labor Export Program (LEP) and the culpability of its various departments such as the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) which have dealings with foreign recruiters undertaking labor trafficking operations, such as the US-based SentosaCare LLC.

In 2006, NAFCON took the lead in assisting and advocating for the Sentosa 27+, a group of Filipino nurses and one physical therapist subjected to illegal recruitment from Manila to New York. Contracted in Manila by the Sentosa Recruitment Agency, the health workers were to work as staff nurses for SentosaCare-owned healthcare facilities in the US, while these facilities processed their H1-B work visas.

However, upon their arrival, a Sentosa representative informed the 27 that no work was available for them in their respective contracted facilities. They were hoodwinked to accept work instead as agency nurses, in which they faced workplace discrimination, abuse, lower wages and benefits, and wage theft.

Upon exercising their right to resign from their employers, SentosaCare LLC filed charges of breach of contract against the health workers.

A Common Problem

“What happened to the Sentosa nurses is unfortunately a common problem here in the US. But their inspiring example to fight for justice and to shutdown SentosaCare LLC has also inspired many other victims of labor trafficking to step forward and fight with massive community support,” states Mara Ibarra, NAFCON spokesperson.

In recent years, NAFCON and BAYAN USA have also provided assistance for Filipinos trafficked to the US as hotel workers, such as the Adman 11 in Los Angeles, the Florida 15 and the Arizona 34—cases which all involved work visa scams in the H1-B and H2-B visa categories.

“In most cases, the victims seek assistance from Philippine consular offices here in the US first, but are not offered help,” Ibarra stated.

Aquino: Failed Economic Policies & Watchlist Ranking

“This is not a Filipino problem. This is a problem of every underdeveloped country in the world with a government milking its overseas workers for remittances to prop up sinking economies they refuse to fix,” states Berna Ellorin, chairperson of BAYAN USA. “In the case of the Philippines, Aquino’s economic policies have failed to eradicate deepening poverty and joblessness, the reasons why Filipinos have no choice but to seek work abroad and often fall into these labor trafficking schemes. At the same time, the Aquino government continues to allow traffickers like SentosaCare LLC maintain their recruitment licenses with the POEA despite public outcry.”

On the Aquino administration’s boasting of its improved ranking from Tier 3 to Tier 2 on the US government’s Watchlist on Human Trafficking, Ellorin asserts—“Philippine government is NOT doing anything to stop human trafficking, as this so-called Tier 2 ranking wants to claim. It is actually pushing it. In fact, the offices and departments of the LEP and their anomalous dealings with recruiters in work visa scams look more like one big human trafficking syndicate raking in profits for the Philippine government and these traffickers than anything else.”

Shutdown Labor Trafficking Operations Now! Stop Human Trafficking!

Under “Communities United Against Labor Trafficking”, one of the key demands of the alliances is for the complete shutdown of labor trafficking operations from the Philippines by way of a Philippine Congressional investigation of the POEA, and the various agencies Filipino workers in the US are implicating in labor trafficking schemes, such as SentosaCare LLC.

A fierce proponent for a Congressional investigation has already been identified House Representative Neri Colmenares of the Bayan Muna Party List in the Philippines. Other allied representatives in the Philippine Congress have already offered their support to the call for an investigation and prosecution of agencies found guilty of labor trafficking from the Philippines.

Additional demands include the immediate release of public funds from the budgets of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the Philippines for legal defense and relief for Filipino victims of human trafficking to the US, many of who are forced into undocumented status because of work visa scams.

“The Philippine government has the power to right these wrongs and shutdown these labor trafficking syndicates. It also has the ample funds to assist trafficking victims. The Aquino government needs to prove in action, not just in rhetoric, which side its really on—that of the traffickers or the trafficking victims,” Ibarra ended.

A national rally against labor trafficking will take place Friday, October 21st, 9:30am in front of the Philippine Consulate General office in mid-town Manhattan. ###

UA Date :

22 October 2011

UA Case :
Arbitrary killing; indiscriminate firing; illegal arrest and detention; forcible evacuation; threat, harassment and intimidation

Victim/s :
Arbitrary killing
Ramon Batoy, male, 35 years old
o Married with 2 children
o A tenant farmer of Antipas Vice-Mayor Van Cadungon
o Supporter of Bantay Kalikasan of Mt. Sinaka

Illegal arrest and detention; Physical assault
Noli Badol, male, 35 years old
o Married with children
o Peasant leader

Celso Batoy, male, 47 years old

Threat, harassment and intimidation; indiscriminate firing; Forcible evacuation

Gina Batoy, female, 33 years old
o Married to Ramon Batoy
o 6 months pregnant

Evelyn Badol, female, 32 years old
o Married to Noli Badol
o 8 months pregnant

48 families, residents of Sitio Upper Lumbo, Kabalantian village, Arakan, North Cotabato

Place of Incident :
Sitio Upper Lumbo, Baranggay (village) Kabalantian, Municipality of Arakan, Province of North Cotabato

Date of Incident :
20 October 2011

Alleged Perpetrator(s) :
Armed elements of the 57th and 38th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army, and the 10th Special Forces Airborne

Account of the Incident:
On October 20, between 7-8am, some soldiers of the 57th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army forcibly entered the house of farmer Ramon Batoy, 35. The soldiers accused Batoy as a member of the New People’s Army. When Batoy resisted, a soldier hit him with the butt of a rifle. To defend himself and his family, Batoy struck the soldier with his bolo, instantly killing the latter.

Three soldiers, one of them with a mask, fired at Batoy, his house, and seven other houses nearby. Ramon’s six-months-pregnant wife, Gina, escaped with their daughter and son.

An eyewitness saw a soldier strap a rifle on Batoy and then took pictures.

Ramon’s neighbor, Noli Badol, 35 and a peasant leader, was also mauled and tortured by the soldiers. Noli’s legs and hands were tied. Noli’s eight-months-pregnant wife, Evelyn, and their children, tried to come to Noli’s aid and pleaded with the soldiers, but were shot at by the soldiers three times.

Soldiers also mauled and detained Celso Batoy, 47. Noli and Celso were also accused as NPA members and are detained at the military detachment as of this writing.

The house of Ramon’s brother Roger Batoy was one of those strafed by the soldiers. Roger, who was inside his house with his wife and stepmother, was reportedly wounded in the foot by bullet fragments.

The incident caused terror among community members that resulted to the evacuation of at least 48 families. The residents evacuated to Binoongan Elementary School.

Lt. Col. Joven Gonzales, commander of the 57th Infantry Battalion immediately announced to the media that an encounter took place in Arakan town around 5:45 a.m. while the soldiers were conducting “a clearing operation.” He told the media that the operation was “legitimate” and that Ramon Batoy, Noli Badol and Celso Batoy were NPA members.

Karapatan-Southern Mindanao learned that the 57th IB forced Badol, who was tortured, to say on radio that his neighbour Ramon Batoy was an NPA.

Ramon Batoy’s remains lies in state at the Arakan Municipal Gym.

A quick reaction team composed of Karapatan members and other human rights advocates are currently looking into the incident.

Recommended Action:

Send letters, emails or fax messages calling for:
The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into the incident in Sitio Upper Lumbo, Kabalantian village, Municipality of Arakan, North Cotabato, which led to the killing of Ramon Batoy, the arrest of Noli Badol and Celso Batoy, and the forcible evacuation of 48 households from their homes.
The immediate release of Noli Badol and Celso Batoy from unjust detention.
The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders and innocent civilians as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”
The Philippine Government to withdraw its counterinsurgency program Oplan Bayanihan, which victimizes innnocent and unarmed civilians
The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.
You may send your communications to:

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Sec. Teresita Quintos-Deles
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
osec@opapp.gov.ph

Ret. Lt. Gen. Voltaire T. Gazmin
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

Atty. Leila De Lima
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph

Hon. Loretta Ann P. Rosales
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chair.rosales.chr@gmail.com, lorettann@gmail.com

Please send us a copy of your email/mail/fax to the above-named government officials, to our address below.

URGENT ACTION Prepared by:

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights
National Office
2/F Erythrina Bldg., #1 Maaralin cor Matatag Sts., B
rgy. Central, Diliman, Quezon City 1100 PHILIPPINES
Voice/Fax: (+632) 435 4146
Email: urgentaction@karapatan.org
Website: www.karapatan.org

You who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you (Luke 13:34)

We express our deepest lamentation and indignant cry on the killing of a priest, Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, PIME.

There is not enough words to express our grief on the untimely death of Fr. Tentorio, an Italian priest and missionary to the Lumad tribes of Arakan Valley, North Cotabato. He was serving the indigenous people in Mindanao since 1978 and was the head of the Tribal Filipinos Apostolate of the Diocese of Kidapawan. He was gunned down in the morning of Oct.17 , 2011 by helmet-wearing, motorcycle-riding gunmen.

We mourn with the PIME congregation and share with them the grief for the lost of a priest whose ministry has been a greater testimony of how the church can always be in the service of those who have been marginalized and made poor by the system.

We grieve with the Lumads, and the indigenous peoples across the country who has lost a man whose life has been a representation of hope, of nurturing our dream , and working together in celebrating the diversity of faith expressions but united in fulfilling the greatest commandment of loving our neighbour.

At this time when alternatives to corporate-agenda of development mocks the option of alternative, Fr. Tentorio dared to promote sustainable agriculture and community-oriented development capacity-building programs. He has been one with the Lumad community and a voice that criticized the military operations. We are certain that it is not the will of God that his life would be snuffed out from us in such undue time. His life, works and ministry has been welcomed and embraced by the tribal communities. The master who directs the bullets aimed at his head, chest and side has lorded over his life, made him a sacrifice offered unto the altar of injustice and hate.

We are greatly disturbed that killings happen and continuously happens with impunity under the current administration of Pres. Benigno Aquino. The pattern of killing of our beloved priests reminds us how the activists, rights defenders, and church peoples were killed under Gloria Macapagal Arroyo . The killing of Fr. Tentorio ushers in a very alarming situation. He was the second church people killed under present government. His death proceeded the killing Rabenio Sungit of United Church of Christ in the Philippines, a staunch advocate and supporter of justice, peace and integrity of creation. Fr. Tentorio is the 31s church people and 2nd Roman Catholic victim of killings since 2001. We have but one call, JUSTICE FOR FR. TENTORIO .

We demand the Aquino government to hasten the investigation and ensure that justice is served. Stop Killing Our Prophets!