Lighting candles for Bishop Alberto Ramento

KARAPATAN

Press Release – October 3, 2006

Reference: Ruth Cervantes, Public Info Officer (09153002684)

Jigs Clamor, Deputy Secretary General (09228149751)

Despite GMA’s condemnation and Melo Commission

Political killings continue to persist!

Human rights watchdog condemns in the strongest possible terms the killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento, Iglesia Filipina Indepiendente (IFI), early this morning. Bishop Ramento is the current KARAPATAN Tarlac Chairman and Convenor of Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties.

Based on the initial report that we have received, at around 4am today, Bishop Ramento was stabbed to death by two unidentified men who illegally entered his room inside the IFI church in Tarlac City. Prior to this incident, Bishop Ramento received numerous death threats from unidentified men believed to be elements of the military.

“We decry and expressed our outrage over this heinous killing against a peace and human rights advocate. This only shows that political killings persist amidst the presence of the Melo Commission. Political killings remain a main ingredient to neutralized political dissenters under her fascist administration.” Jigs Clamor said.

“We call for an immediate and impartial investigation and prosecution on this killing. Perpetrators of this heinous killing should be immediately brought to justice. Let us express our outrage in this undeniable involvement of the military in these horrible crimes. We are calling on all freedom-loving Filipinos to pour out into the streets in protest of the killings. Our determined action will shatter impunity and prevent the return of draconian rule in the Philippines.” Clamor concluded.

Stop the killings! Stop political persecution!

Uphold human rights!

Human rights violators must be punished!

Go to: Stop killing peace advocates in the Philippines website

http://www.freewebs.com/peaceadvocates/index.html

AND THEY SAY IT WAS A ROBBERY

WITH HOMICIDE
Alexander Martin Remollino

In memory of Bp. Alberto Ramento (Iglesia Filipina Independiente), found dead with multiple stab wounds in his convent on Oct. 3, 2006

And they say it was a robbery with homicide.
And so it is, for they say it is so.

For there's a lot to be stolen from a convent,
a convent the construction of which
has been perpetually in progress,
a convent with a damaged door.
There is much to be stolen from such a convent --
much aside from the breath of a bishop
whose heart throbbed with the pulse of the people.

And they say it was a robbery with homicide.
And so it is, for they say it is so.