Methodist Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa:

the 21st church worker killed

since 2001

Daraga, Albay

Posted:   August 11, 2006

Updated:  August 15, 2006

Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa of the United Methodist Church (UMC) of Malobago, Daraga, Albay was killed by 10 armed men last August 3, 2006. He is the 21st church worker killed since May 2001.

As NCCP mourns with the family of Pastor Sta. Rosa and other victims of extra-judicial killings, we call for a stop to these killings. We also call for an independent investigation on these violations of human rights by a group of esteemed individuals from different walks of life and a thorough inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international courts of justice to ferret out the truth and to hold accountable those responsible for such wrongdoings.

- Ms. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, General Secretary-NCCP

Visit: Katarungan - Bikol Website

http://www.cp-union.org/katarungan-bikol/

Visit: Tigil-Paslang Website

http://tigilpaslang.blogspot.com/

INQUIRER:Activist-pastor shot dead

 in Albay

Hustisya para kay Pastor Isaias at sa lahat na biktima ng terorismo ng estado! - BAYAN-Bikol

Leftist killings a state-sanctioned policy - PCIJ blog

Visit: Stop the Killings Website

http://www.cp-union.org/stop-the-killings-in-phils/

On the Killing of Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa
by Ms. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes

General Secretary-NCCP

Press Statement, August 7, 2006

Another church worker from one of the member churches of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) has fallen from the bullets of assassins. Pastor Isaias Sta. Rosa of the United Methodist Church (UMC) of Malobago, Daraga, Albay was killed by 10 armed men last August 3, 2006. He is the 21st church worker killed since May 2001.

Pastor Sta. Rosa's killing came after three activists were killed in a span of 24 hours in the regions of Northern and Central Luzon and Sorsogon province. One of those killed, Rei Mon Guran, spokesperson of League of Filipino Students in Aquinas University in Legazpi City was also an active member of the Christian Youth Fellowship of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (CYF-UCCP).

It is interesting to note that these murders continue even after the announcement by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of a 10 week deadline to investigate the spate of extra-judicial killings among activists and journalists. It is also interesting to note that newspaper reports regarding Pastor Sta. Rosa's murder point to the military as possible suspects.

Clearly the situation is getting worse everyday. The impunity of how these killings are carried out is an affront to God's gift of life.

As NCCP mourns with the family of Pastor Sta. Rosa and other victims of extra-judicial killings, we call for a stop to these killings. We also call for an independent investigation on these violations of human rights by a group of esteemed individuals from different walks of life and a thorough inquiry by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international courts of justice to ferret out the truth and to hold accountable those responsible for such wrongdoings.