People's organizations/sectoral groups tribute to Bishoop Ramento

Leaders of various people's organizations pay tribute to Bishop Alberto Ramento



PAGTATAPAT NG PATALIM NA NAGKAMALAY (Sa alaala ng Obispo Maximo Alberto Ramento ng Iglesia Filipina Independiente) Tula alay ni Dr. Bienvenido Lumbera, National Artist binasa sa parangal ng Bayan, October 11, 2006 Ako nga po ang berdugong patalim. Sugo ako upang salaksakin Kung saang bahagi ng kalooban Nakatanim ang paninindigang Palaban sa naghahari-harian. Hamak na metal lamang ako, Makinang, matigas, matalas, Walang utak, sunud-sunuran Sa wala ring utak na bayarang kamay Pinakinang ng salaping hinuthot sa bayan, Pinatigas ng matinding pagsasalat ng kabuhayan, Pinatalas ng katusuhan ng nasa kapangyarihan. Makailang ulit kong nilaslas ang mga himaymay ng laman Ng alagad ng Diyos, at sa ikapitong ulos, bumulwak Ang diwang sumuhay sa inaping magsasaka ng Hacienda Luisita, Ang tapang na tumutol sa pandaraya’t panlilinlang Na nagluklok sa Presidente sa Malakanyang, Ang poot na kumondena sa pamamaslang Ng mga mamamayang ayaw pasindak Sa pasistang pamahalaan. At milagrong may kamalayang Bumaon sa bakal kong kalikasan Dugong pinabulwak ay mantsang tumina Sa metal, tumiim sa lamig ng aking talim, Kusang isinulat sa pader ng palasyo, “Bilang na ang araw ng mga berdugo.” Isang umaga, sisigwa ng luha ang kalangitan, Hahabagat ang papawirin, malulusaw ang lagim, At babangon ang liwayway na nagluluningning. Kamay ng Diyos ang siya namang huhugot sa akin, Gagabay sa talim ng paghihiganting gugunaw Sa kapangyarihang ninakaw ng alagad ng dilim, At ang dugong dadanak ay sisigaw, “Alberto Ramento, bubuhayin kang muli ng sambayanan!”












National Democratic Front of the Philippines NEGOTIATING PANEL 13 October 2006 MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE ON THE MARTYRDOM OF BISHOP ALBERTO B. RAMENTO With profound grief, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) conveys its heartfelt condolences to the family of Bishop Alberto B. Ramento, to his widow, Celerina, his four children, Alberto II, Alberto III, Liezel and Aleli, to the Philippine Independent Church community and the ecumenical movement in the Philippines and abroad, and to all his colleagues in the people’s movement for national freedom, social justice and a just and lasting peace. The NDFP pays the highest tribute to Bishop Ramento as a patriot and martyr of the Filipino people. He was a fearless champion of the toiling masses of workers and peasants. This was absolutely clear in his firm and unwavering support for the workers and peasants of Hacienda Luisita and his active participation in the Church-Peasant Conference. Despite the threats to his life from the US-backed Arroyo regime, especially after his unequivocal support to the Hacienda Luisita workers, Bishop Ramento never stopped his militant support for the workers and peasants. It is not surprising therefore that they honor him as the Bishop of the poor peasants and workers. Bishop Ramento was also outstanding in firmly upholding the national sovereignty of the Filipino people and fighting for the protection of our national patrimony. He was a staunch critic of the escalating US military intervention in the Philippines, the Visiting Forces Agreement, and the “Charter Change” Plan of Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. As late as June 12, 2006, at a people’s protest action in Manila, he condemned the Cha-Cha scheme of Mrs. Arroyo as a threat to our national patrimony. As a staunch defender of human rights, he was the active chairperson of KARAPATAN in Tarlac province. He condemned the extra-judicial political killings, the enforced disappearances, the frustrated killings under the Arroyo regime and held the Arroyo regime accountable for these killings. As an indefatigable champion for a just and lasting peace, he was a Convenor of the Pilgrims for Peace, the Peace Forum, and a board member of the Philippine Peace Center and Co-Chairperson of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum. The NDFP deeply values and highly esteems his preeminent role in striving for a just and lasting peace. The NDFP Negotiating Panel nominated him in September 1998 as Independent Observer of the Joint Monitoring Committee, which is mandated by the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL). Bishop Ramento was also a key person in the release of an NDFP Political Consultant in 1994 whose arrest and detention had prejudiced the GRP-NDFP peace negotiations. On his visit to the NDFP Negotiating Panel in Utrecht in 1995, as Supreme Bishop of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, he assured the NDFP of his commitment to strive for a just and lasting peace in the Philippines. He never wavered from fulfilling this commitment. As we in the NDFP join the Filipino people in the cry for justice for Bishop Ramento and all other victims of human rights violations under the Arroyo regime, we also join the family, friends and colleagues of Bishop Alberto B. Ramento not only in mourning his death but also in drawing the most profound strength and powerful inspiration to carry forward the people’s struggle for national freedom, democracy, social justice and a just and lasting peace. Luis G. Jalandoni Chairperson, NDFP Negotiating Panel


		KMU Chair Elmer Labog presents a plaque of appreciation to Mrs. Celerina Ramento. BAYAN had earlier presente one too.


		Mrs Ramento with Karapatan officers Marie Enriquez and Ruth Cervantes and Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño



		The family of Bishop Ramento join friends and supporters of the late bishop at the eucharistic mass (photos below).













Mrs. Evangeline Herandez, Spokesperson of HUSTISYA





	Bulatlat writer Alex Remollino





Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño



	LFS Chair Vencer Crisostomo

Statements, messages of condolence to the family and IFI and news items

Interview with Prof. Jose Maria Sison about the extra-judicial killings in the Philippines	Inquirer: Another Aglipayan priest murdered

PNP colludes with afp by dismissing political killings as crime incidents	Letter of the United Church of Christ to the Obispo Maximo of the IFI

CPP blasts Arroyo regime and PNP's "plain robbery script" in the premeditated political killing of Bishop Ramento	Inquirer: Killer ‘toyed’ with Ramento, says fact-finding mission;scenario made to ‘look like robbery’

Death squads of the AFP sowing terror in Borongan must be thoroughly exposed and punished	Inquirer: Ramento slay sends chill through int’l Christian community

Letter of the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church to the Philippine Ambassador	Political motive behind Bp. Ramento slay strong; KARAPATAN skeptical on PNP investigation

Gitnang Luzon Bulletin: Church under attack!	MCCCL condemns killing of Bp. Ramento, says government should be compelled to stop killings

Oct 10 Statement of the World Council of Churches	Youth, students denounce ‘hogwash white-wash’; Demand justice for slain bishop in Mendiola rally

NORDIS Weekly: PNP hit for bishop’s slay	Nordis Weekly Editorial: Bishop’s murder is a stab against churches
Visit the website of Northern Dispatch Weekly for related reports: http://www.nordis.net/

Statement of Peace for Life on the murder of Bishop Ramento



	Leaders of various people's organizations and sectoral groups paid tribute to Bishop Ramento on Oct. 11 at the IFI National Cathedral. National Artist Bienvenido Lumbera (photo above) delivers a poem he wrote in memory of the bishop. Photo, left: Bayan Chair Dr. Carol Araullo and Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes


Vice-President Teofisto Guingona bids farewell to Bishop Ramento who served as one of the presidium members in the Citizens Congress for Truth and Accountability (CCTA) which he chaired.	Rey Claro Casambre, Executive Director of the Philippine Peace Center (PPC), salutes Bishop Ramento who co-chaired the PPC with retired Justice Abraham Sarmiento.