RELEASE PASTOR BERLIN GUERRERO!

STOP POLITICAL PERSECUTION!
 

The Promotion of Church People's Response (PCPR) joins the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in condemning the abduction of Pastor Berlin Guerrero around 6:00 pm May 27, 2007 after attending to his Sunday service in his local church in Biñan, Laguna. 

We condemn in strongest terms the brazen attack on Pastor Berlin and his family. His wife and children were shocked as armed men attacked and pointed guns at them as their father was forcibly taken to an L-300 van with the plate covered with paper. It appears that Pastor Berlin's abductors have learned their lesson from the case of Jonas Burgos – they did not want us to trace the vehicle to the military. 

Pastor Berlin is a theology student of the Union Theological Seminary, an active member of the Kapatirang Simbahan para sa Bayan (Ecumenical Center for Development) and former staff of the UCCP National Office. Aside from his ecumenical involvements, it appears that his involvement in Bayan Muna and Bayan Southern Tagalog made him a target of political repression. 

Pastor Berlin had no enemy. We hold the military forces of the Arroyo government accountable for the fate of Pastor Berlin and nearly 200 victims of enforced disappearances. No one but the armed forces of this corrupt government have openly labeled social activists and human rights defenders, including activist church members, as enemies of the state and thus, targets for political persecution. 

Despite international condemnation on the killings and enforced disappearances, the abduction of Pastor Berlin demonstrates the arrogance of the Arroyo government in continuing its policy of repression. Pastor Berlin is the 197th victim of abduction under the Arroyo administration. More than 20 activist pastors and lay members of the churches have been victims of extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances under this government which resorts to virtual martial rule to suppress dissent over its flagrant corruption and human rights violations.