people's march to mendiola oct 12, 2006

March from the IFI National Cathedral to Mendiola but blocked at Liwasan











	The participants in the religious march were blocked by the police after marching for about 300 meters. The police officers repeatedly said, like robots, that a permit was required to march to Mendiola. After negotiations, the marchers proceeded to Liwasang Bonifacio where they met a more violent attempt at dispersal. The IFI General Secretary led in the negotiations.













	The police again blocked the marchers in front of the old Metropolitan Theater. The police forced the marchers to back off and turn to the Liwasan Some priests and lay people were hurt.



	12 October 2006 BRUTISH POLICEMEN DISRUPT RELIGIOUS MARCH Priests Assaulted; Procession for Justice Blocked A crowd-dispersal unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) twice blocked the symbolic funeral procession of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and assaulted priests who joined the march to ventilate their protest for the brutal killing of Bishop Alberto Ramento. The peaceful and orderly march of more than one thousand bishops, priests, seminarians, lay leaders and sympathizers of the slain bishop from multi-sectoral groups met violent dispersal when they tried to get pass the police blockade at Liwasang Bonifacio. The march that started from the IFI National Cathedral and was supposed to culminate at the Chino Roces Bridge (Mendiola) was led by Bishop Godofredo J. David, IFI Supreme Bishop, along with twenty-five other bishops. However, the bishops were shocked when the policemen armed with truncheons and shields prevented the procession from passing through Taft Avenue. The procession intended to reach Mendiola to ‘bring the demand for truth and justice for Bishop Ramento’s murder at the very steps of the presidential palace.’ The bishops were convinced that the brutal killing of Bishop Ramento, as well as the continuing harassment of their other bishops and priests, is not without the knowledge of the GMA government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Earlier that day, the bishops issued a statement calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to stop extra-judicial killings. They also called ‘call for the creation of an independent multi-sectoral investigating body to probe into the situation of human rights violations in the Philippines.’ Fr. Vermilion Tagalog, a priest from the Diocese of Laguna, became a victim of the brutish policemen who pushed the group while negotiations were still ongoing. Fr. Tagalog was trying to prevent truncheoned policemen from penetrating the procession when he was pressed back and the stole he was wearing was snatched and torn by one of the policemen. Other priests and lay leaders at the front line suffered bruises as the police men pushed their truncheons and forced the police vehicle to block the way of the procession. Bro. Jhun Lambus, program officer at the IFI Central Office who joined in negotiating with the police, suffered an abrasion in his right lower arm and a laceration on his left middle finger. Fr. Terry Revollido, Chairman of the Council of Priests, condemned the PNP for their blatant disrespect to the bishops and priests and remarked that the PNP’s action demonstrates an emerging situation of religious repression in the country. ‘It is deplorable that our prayerful expression of mourning is lost on the police and the government. Our call for justice to a violent death was met with another assault. Now more than ever, we are convinced that this present government has turned a deaf ear to the cries for truth, justice and peace’, he said. Bishop Ephraim Fajutagana, IFI General Secretary, meanwhile urged the people ‘to denounce the escalation of political repression and extra- judicial killings in the country and to remain vigilant against state terrorism.’###


	Because Mendiola is forbidden territory, IFI marchers and their supporters and friends from various multisectoral groups had to hold their program at Liwasang Bonifacio.

		SA ARAW NA GANAP NATING BAWIIN ANG ATING PAGPAPAHINTULOT Alexander Martin Remollino Kailangan daw natin ang kanilang pahintulot upang makapagpahayag, maging upang makapaningil ng katarungan alang-alang sa isang obispo, sa isang obispong katulad ni Kristo ay ipinako sa krus dahil pinanigan niya ang mga inapakan. Kailangan daw natin ang kanilang pahintulot. Umakyat na ang kapangyarihan sa kanilang mga ulo. Kaya nakalimot na sila, nalimutan na nilang kaya sila naririyan ay dahil na rin sa ating pagpapahintulot. Tayo ang unang naglagay ng setro sa kamay ng reyna. At umaapaw ang masasarap na pagkain sa dambuhalang mga hapag nila sa Palasyo dahil sa mga buwis na ang ipinambabayad ay ang mga butil ng ating pawis, ang mga patak ng ating luha at dugo. Kaya sila naluklok sa kataas-taasan ay dahil sa atin, dahil sa ating pagpapahintulot. At pagpapahintulot pa rin ang pananahimik habang dumaragundong ang tunog ng mga ulong binabayo ng mga batuta, binabayo ng mga batuta dahil nagtangkang tumunog sa Mendiola at ihingi ng katarungan ang isang alagad ni Kristong ipinako sa krus. At sapagkat tayo ang sa kanila'y nagluklok at nagpapapanatiling nakaluklok, tayo rin ang makapagtatanggal ng setro mula sa kamay ng reyna, ng reynang wala nang matwid na mamuno. Sa araw na ganap nating bawiin ang ating pagpapahintulot, ang ulo ng reynang utusan, utusan ng banyagang emperyo -- ulong ngayo'y labis nang lango sa kapangyarihan ay gugulong, gugulong tungo sa putikan.






			Obispo Maximo Godofredo David	IFI General Secretary



Fr. Tagalog recounts his experience of violence of the police, with another priest displaying the stole that was ripped apart by the police during the scuffle. The stole is a sacred thing because it is the official symbol of ministry, of serving God and the people.




	Lighting candles for Bishop Ramento and the hundreds of victims of political killings


Statements of concern and solidarity

			*Visit IFI website:* www.ifi.ph for more statements and press releases
A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY Our dear Sisters and Brothers in the Philippines We are 43 Missionary Benedictine Sisters from 15 countries gathered here in Rome for our General Chapter. Just this afternoon, Sr. Mary John Mananzan, one of our delegates shared with us that one of your bishops. Bishop Alberto Ramento of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente has just been brutally murdered. We understand that this is just one of the many extra-judicial killings that have been happening in your country. We would like to express first of all our deepest sympathy and condolence for the loss of one of your prophets. We have prayed for him during our Vespers this evening. We pray God that he is in peace and we pray also for the consolation of the members of his Church and for his grieving family. We also want to express our solidarity with you who are working for justice especially for the poor and for your efforts to put a stop to the violation of human rights especially the right to life and the right to due process. Although we are saddened by the death of Bishop Alberto, we are inspired by his courage and his commitment to justice and truth,. We have learned from Church History that killing people will not stop the cause for which they are fighting. The blood of martyrs watered the early Church and made it grow. So we are praying that the death of Bishop Ramento will not be in vain if it gives courage to people to continue to struggle for justice and peace in our world In Solidarity, The Delegates Eleventh General Chapter, October 5, 2006 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
			When Prophers are Silenced: a statement by Most Revr. Godofredo J. David, Obispo Maximo
			Download text file of When Prophets Are Silenced

			Inquirer breaking news of the Oct. 12 march

			Statement of SAMIN (Sisters Association in Mindanao)

			Statement of the IFI Diocese of Southern Mindanao


TV-7 Video Clip


	Download TV7 news clip





"We are convinced that his murder was the consequence of his principled engagement with the Filipino people's struggle for the fulness of life. The Church is strongly convinced that his brutal death is part of the worsening cases of extra-judicial killings in the country. We condemn this act of terror perpetrated against a man of the cloth murdered within the sanctuary of his own Church. We condemn militarization and make a stand against this attack on church people."	"We lament over the grievous attempts to mislead he people into believing that Bishop Ramento's murder is but a case of 'simple robbery with homicide.' We express our concern over the PNP making a hasty conclusion of the case and have the impression that the police is being coerced to protect the powerful people who are behind Bishop Ramento's death." -- Most Revd Godofredo J. David Obispo Maximo, IFI


Although we are saddened by the death of Bishop Alberto, we are inspired by his courage and his commitment to justice and truth,. We have learned from Church History that killing people will not stop the cause for which they are fighting. The blood of martyrs watered the early Church and made it grow. So we are praying that the death of Bishop Ramento will not be in vain if it gives courage to people to continue to struggle for justice and peace in our world. - The Delegates Eleventh General Chapter, October 5, 2006 Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing