Look beyond rob angle in Ramento slay, cops urged By Tonette Orejas Inquirer Last updated 04:59am (Mla time) 10/06/2006 Published on page A2 of the October 6, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer TARLAC CITY -- A leader of the Philippine Independent Church yesterday urged police to look beyond robbery as the motive for the killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento, noting “glaring indications” that politics was behind it. “Initial police investigation reports point to the incident as a mere case of robbery with homicide. However, the Ramento family, the clergy and the faithful of the Diocese of Tarlac believe that the motive is much deeper than what has come out from the spot investigation,” Obispo Maximo Godofredo David said in a statement. David said that for the PIC, also known as the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the killing was the “inevitable consequence of his principled engagement with the people and their struggle for the fullness of life.” “We denounce in the strongest possible terms this barbaric and dastardly act against a man of the cloth within the premises of his own church,” David said. Ramento, 69, was stabbed dead by two men at the rectory of the San Sebastian parish here on early Tuesday. ‘Thoroughly planned’ David said there were “glaring indications” the murder was “thoroughly planned and politically motivated.” He said Ramento was not only a well-loved pastor but also a “social prophet, and an icon in the nationalist struggle of the Filipino masses with his uncompromising stand for national sovereignty and patrimony.” “He was a true advocate of just peace,” David said of his predecessor, who joined the monitoring panel in the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front in 1990. Active in the ecumenical movement, Ramento chaired the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and co-chaired the Ecumenical Bishops Forum of various churches in the country. As chairman of the PIC’s Supreme Council of Bishops (SCB), Ramento “strongly condemned the state of political repression and grave situation of human rights violation in the country,” David said. Outspoken Arroyo critic David described Ramento as an “outspoken critic” of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, questioning her legitimacy and urging her to step down. Ramento also sided with the striking workers of the Hacienda Luisita, a 6,000-hectare sugar estate owned by the family of former President Corazon Aquino. “The people behind his death might think that they had silenced him and maimed the prophetic voice of the Church. They are mistaken. His death has become like a candle in a burning incense, sparking more fire, enflaming the hearts of the clergy and faithful,” said David. The manhunt for the suspects entered the third day Thursday without yielding results, according to Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, Tarlac provincial police director. He said the police were not yet looking into the angle of political killing because there were “no signs of that yet.” Suspects Two suspects in the slaying have been identified -- Michael Quitalig alias Bembol, and Efren Abaya alias Efren Suarez, both known members of a criminal gang engaged in theft and robbery. Quitalig was convicted and served sentence for theft, and was released from jail only last July 2006. Bartolome said they were among suspects in two earlier break-ins at Ramento’s residence on Sept. 11 and 23. Before his death, Ramento had disclosed to church leaders, his relatives and human rights campaigners that he had confirmed from his military contacts that he was on the military’s order of battle. Director General Oscar Calderon of the Philip pine National Police said yesterday he had ordered the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to step in and “hasten” the solution of the case. “It is unfortunate that communist propaganda is attempting to muddle the investigation. But, our investigators are keeping their focus on solving the case,” Calderon said. Church groups protest In Iloilo city, church leaders from various denominations announced at a news conference they would hold vigils and protest actions to show their indignation at the killing of Ramento. Those represented included the Convention of Baptist Churches of the Philippines, United Church of Christ of the Philippines, National Priest Organization of the IFI, Western Visayas Ecumenical Council and Promotion of Church People’s Response. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said in a statement that Ramento’s death was “saddening and shocking.” Lagdameo pointed out that in several pastoral statements, the CBCP has already denounced the increasing number of extra-judicial killings of journalists, activists and militants over the years. “What is alarming is that so far the actions that have been taken do not yet satisfy the demands of justice especially for the victims and their relatives,” said Lagdameo. ‘No longer safe’ “Will the case of Bishop Ramento be another reason for us to say that his country is no longer safe for those who announce the truth and denounce immorality?” asked Lagdameo. Pastor June Gange of the UCCP said Ramento’s death only showed that “anybody who proclaims truth and justice could be killed anywhere and anytime.” Bishop Tito Vilches of the IFI Diocese of Guimaras said it was doubtful that robbers killed Ramento because he had no money and there was nothing valuable to steal in the convent. “Is a pastoral ring and pectoral cross worth killing a bishop?” said Vilches. With reports from Alcuin Papa and Nestor P. Burgos Jr., Inquirer Visayas Copyright 2006 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.