March, picket, mass, candle-lighting and vigil

for Bishop Alberto Ramento in Hongkong

Oct. 8, 2006   Posted Oct. 11, 2006

(HK Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines)

A march  to the Philippine Consulate, then a picket rally, followed by a mass for Bishop Ramento and all victims of political killings.  Fr. Dwight Q. dela Torre, a convenor of HKCAHRPP, lead the march composed of members of the Philippine Independent Church (PIC) and members of HKCAHRPP.

PNP’s declaration of Bp. Ramento's slay case as closed is rejected by the Philippine Independent Church (scroll down to read press release)

Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement

of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines

(HKCAHRPP)

STATEMENT
6 October 2006
Hong Kong SAR

Reference: Bruce Van Voorhis (26986913)
Rev. Dwight Q. dela Torre, IFI/PIC (98105070)
Eman C. Villanueva (97585935)
Convenors

Justice for Bishop Ramento

Bishop Alberto Ramento, a leader of his church, a key figure of the ecumenical movement in the Philippines, an advocate for the poor, a worker for justice, a promoter of peace­such a man was suddenly awakened at about 4:00 a.m. in his room in the convent in Tarlac City and brutally stabbed to death on October 3. Why was a bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), or Philippine Independent Church­a man of God and the people­killed so violently?

The initial explanation of the police is robbery and homicide. Why though would robbers go to the second floor of a convent to rob a bishop who had lived simply all his life and who had been a champion of the poor? What valuables would such a man possess? To steal goods from a 69-year-old man in his sleep, why would he have to be stabbed seven times?

The explanation of the churches and human rights groups in the Philippines and around the world is that Bishop Ramento's violent death rather fits the pattern of hundreds of others in the Philippines over the past few years, i.e., another extrajudicial killing. The common denominator of the death of these priests and church workers, journalists, lawyers, peasants, workers and students is that they have upheld the rights of the poor, the majority of the population in the Philippines, and consequently, they have been critics of the policies of the Philippine government and the actions of the country's vested economic interests. Like many of the other victims, Bishop Ramento had also received death threats prior to being killed.

Why then did the police not reach the same conclusion as well? The country's extrajudicial killings are not a secret. What do the police have to fear? Who are they trying to protect? Are the police not implicating themselves or the military in Bishop Ramento's death by claiming it was a robbery and homicide?

Thus, the Hong Kong Campaign for the Advancement of Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines (HKCAHRPP), a local coalition of concerned human rights, migrant and student organizations and individuals, joins others in the Philippines and throughout the world in condemning the violent death of Bishop Ramento and calls for an immediate and independent investigation into his killing. This case is an opportunity for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to honor her pledge in September to invite a delegation from Europe to monitor the Philippine government's response to the country's extrajudicial killings. The European monitors should play a proactive role in the process to ensure that a proper and impartial investigation is conducted.

Bishop Ramento was a church leader who sought to give witness to his faith by seeking justice for the poor. Like the Christ he followed, he was crucified by the powerful forces of his time for his words and deeds. President Arroyo though cannot wash her hands and deny her responsibility for ensuring that his case ends with justice. Bishop Ramento's death is an opportunity for President Arroyo to prove to all Filipinos and the international community that she truly wants to solve the scourge of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Also visit: stk-hk.blogspot.com

for HKCAHRPP Blog Updates

11 October 2006

• March, picket, mass, candle-lighting and vigil

• Bishop Ramento’s murder spurs indignation of thousands in Hong Kong Justice for Bishop Ramento

• HKCAHRPP Statement on the Killing of Bishop Ramento

• Candle-lighting to Stop the Killings

• "Bishop of the Poor Peasants and Workers"

• HK - Tribute to Bishop Ramento

In Excelsis Deo
by Mila D. Aguilar

This woman's playing chess
Without a tear.
After eating up all the pawns
She's now targeting bishops
From the rear.
No storm, it seems,
Can stay her
Rather deadly,
Definitely
Ungodly career.

Why don't the people
Arise, you ask.
So many lives wasted,
So much blood left out
In the sun to bask
Like dried meat seeking
Salt to stop the reeking.
Let me tell you one thing,
Dear, it's not a simple,
Easy task.

You have been asked
To pray.
You have refused
On the excuse
Of forging broader fronts.
There is no way
This front can come together
Of its own accord.
If you'll but see the greater power
This woman will not stay

Another hour.

October 4, 2006
11:03:59 a.m. - 12:55:06 p.m.

Two days after the killing, the PNP considered the murder as just robbery with homicide, not a political killing, with the presentation of 4 suspects and the recovered DVD player and ring. PNP Chief Calderon said the four suspects are no fall guys.

According to the family of Bishop Ramento, the DVD player was stolen 2 weeks before the murder.

The alleged killer makes a denial on TV and claims he was at home.

Reporter: Isa sa mga suspek si Michael Viado na siyang sumaksak sa obispo.
PNP spokesman: Based on the statements of some of the suspects one of them was the lookout... and he identified Michael Viado to be one of two guys who came out from the church.
Reporter: Pero humahangolngol na tinatanggi ito ni Michael.
Michael Viado: Hindi po, hindi po. Wala po akong alam, wala po talaga sir.
Reporter: Nasaan ka ba noon?
Michael Viado: Nasa bahay po.

(From a documentary by Pokus Central Luzon)

Inquirer editorial: Death of a bishop

HKCAHRPP statement in Word format

Vigil service for Bishop Ramento

Bishop of the workers and peasants was also a bishop of the migrants - statement of The Mission for Filipino Migrant Workers (Hongkong) Society

CBCP condemns murder of Aglipayan bishop

US church leaders condemn political killing of a Filipino bishop - statement of Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, USA

Justice for Bishop Alberto Ramento!Oust the Murderous Arroyo Regime! - PCPR statement!

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA): letter to GMA on the political killings in the Ph8ilippines

Inquirer: Ramento’s murder angers fellow bishops

Obispo Maximo XI, The Most Rev. Godofredo J. David
Obispado Maximo
1500 Taft Avenue
Ermita, Manila

PRESS RELEASE
11 October 2006

PNP’S DECLARATION OF BP. RAMENTO’S SLAY CASE AS CLOSED REJECTED BY CHURCH

The leadership of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) expressed skeptism over the Philippine National Police (PNP) declaration that the murder case of Bishop Alberto Ramento is already solved. It made the statement after presenting to the public four suspects on the brutal slay of the bishop. The PNP has repeatedly announced that robbers who broke through the Church killed the bishop.

Bishop Ephraim S. Fajutagana, the Church’s General Secretary, aired his disbelief over the PNP’s swift announcement. He remarked about the haphazard investigation conducted by the local police and strongly questioned the basis of their conclusion. The bishop stated that he feels ‘suspicious with the PNP making a hasty conclusion of the case’ and have the impression that the police is trying to ‘protect the powerful people’ who are behind Bishop Ramento’s murder. Bishop Fajutagana said that the Church has very strong evidences that point to the death of Bishop Ramento as part of the worsening cases of extra- judicial killings in the country.


CHURCH WELCOMES SENATOR MAGSAYSAY’S SENATE RESOLUTION TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION ON BISHOP RAMENTO’S MURDER

The Most Reverend Godofredo David, Obispo Maximo of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), received yesterday a copy of a resolution filed by Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. urging the Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights to look into the murder of Bishop Ramento.

Senator Magsaysay, who lauded Bishop Ramento as a ‘highly respected Filipino patriot’, said the bishop was instrumental in providing sanctuaries for those victimized by the situation of war being a designated a member of the monitoring committee in the peace negotiations. He also said the bishop was ‘a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration questioning its legitimacy.’

INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS GROUP ALARMED OVER BISHOP RAMENTO’S BRUTAL SLAY

International concern has been raised over the killing of Bishop Ramento. An international group of lawyers visited his wake and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family of the late bishop. Bishop David said that the group International Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) expressed its deep concern over the killing of the bishop and was highly alarmed with the state of political repression and aggravating situation of human rights violations in the Philippines.

He said the lawyers, who were here for their four day congress in Davao, were very shocked by the manner that Bishop Ramento was killed. He was informed that the congress will take up Bishop Ramento’s case and the general human rights situation in the Philippines.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Rowan Williams, head of the Communion of the Anglican Church worldwide, has also sent his solidarity message for the death of Bishop Ramento whom he praised ‘as a human rights activist and peace advocate’. Archbishop Williams expressed as well his grave concern over the ‘worsening climate of continuing attacks against those campaigning for peace and justice in the Philippines.’

Leaders of sister Churches of the IFI worldwide expressed sympathy and statement of concerns about Bishop Ramento’s murder Archbishop Joris Vercammen of including Old Catholic Church in Union of Utrecht. Archbishop Anders Wejryd of the Church of Sweden, Most Reverend Frank Griswold of the Episcopal Church in the USA and Most Reverend Andrew Hutchison of the Anglican Church of Canada.

ANOTHER IFI PRIEST IN TARLAC REPORTED BEING WATCHED

Unidentified men believed to be military agents are reportedly watching Reverend Father Gilbert Garcia, also a priest in the Diocese of Tarlac, and a fellow human rights advocate of the late Bishop Ramento. This is confirmed by as member of his congregation who saw three-hooded men around the Church premises in the early morning of October 9. Fr. Gilbert has noticed the cycle of shadowing beginning with his engagement in the Hacienda Luisita issue of farm workers and peasants. He has also received text messages threatening his life.

Fr. Gilbert is the spokesperson of the Diocese of Tarlac on the murder of Bishop Ramento. He believes that this shadowing is part of a harassment scheme to intimidate him from doing his part in shedding light to the brutal killing of his bishop.