revkobiaatifinccp

Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia delivers the homily honoring the legacy of late 9th Supreme Bishop, The Most Rev. Alberto B. Ramento, D.D. National Cathedral of the Philippine Independent Church Nov. 18, 2007


Ms. Carmencita Karagdag of Peace for Life introduces Rev. Kobia			Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia






Press Conference at the NCCP Conference Hall, Nov. 21, 2007





News Reports: ■ WCC to urge UN intervention in RP rights situation ■ Protestant leader calls for healing, rights probe			■ EU voices concern over rights abuses, AFP-PNP involvement

important Resolutions issued by the 22nd General Convention of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP),

Resolution No. 2008-04 RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE RESUMPTION OF THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS WHEREAS, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines is committed to peace. It is a commitment…that is rooted in our being as Christians and in our calling as churches. Peace is what the ministry of Christ is all about (NCCP Statement, 23 January 1987). In the 14^th General Convention, the theme “Seek Peace and Pursue It” (14 November 1989), guided the Council in its peacemaking ministry. WHEREAS, the country is still in a state of unpeace. The NCCP believes that peace is not just the absence of war but also encompasses the need to address the complex issue of the socio-economic, political and cultural spheres of our society; and, that a major concern for peace is the decades-old civil war that has been raging in the country, with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), on the one hand, as contending parties, and the GRP and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), on the other. WHEREAS, the declaration of an all-out-war by the government against its perceived enemies, its counter-insurgency program, and the subsequent militarization in the countryside, have brought about rampant human rights violations that has resulted in the deaths of more than 800 people, including 26 church people. Based on the findings of UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Prof. Philip Alston, the “counter-insurgency strategy and recent changes in the priorities of the criminal justice system are of special importance to understanding why the killings continue” (Report to the 62^nd Session of the UN General Assembly, 16 August 2007). WHEREAS, while the GRP-MILF peace talks is ongoing, the GRP-NDF Peace Negotiations remains suspended. WHEREAS, the NCCP believes that principled negotiations by both parties, which are sincerely committed to the realization of people’s aspirations, is an essential path towards just and lasting peace (NCCP Statement, 13 November 2002).			WHEREAS, in all his public statements during his visit to the Philippines from November 17-22, 2007, Rev. Dr. Sam Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, commended “the resilience of the Filipino people” and the enduring concern and courageous witness of the NCCP for just and lasting peace. WHEREAS, the call of the Filipino people was buoyed by the recent creation of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) through the Norwegian Ecumenical Peace Platform (NEPP), to make the voices calling for peace, specifically the resumption of the formal negotiations between the GRP and the NDFP louder. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as it is hereby resolved, that the NCCP, in its effort to weave the patchwork for justice and peace, renew its commitment to its peacemaking ministry in issuing the persistent call for the resumption of the peace negotiations with the end in view of addressing the roots of the conflict, namely: poverty, landlessness, and socio-economic inequity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council and its member churches: reinvigorate the conduct of peace education activities at the grassroots level ; amplify its public advocacy starting with the renunciation of the government’s all-out-war policy and counter-insurgency strategy as major impediments to peace; and, take a very active role in the PEPP. Download resolution Other resolutions: ■ Statement on Corruption and Moral Ascendancy ■ Statement on the Present Human Rights Crisis ■ A resolution to adopt the national program of IPs in the Philippines ■ A resolution expressing support to the calls for the Senate to reject the japan-philippines partnership agreement (JPEPA) ■ A resolution affirming the nccp’s support to the churches in korea for unification of the korean peninsula ■ First woman NCCP General Secretary Passes post to first Indigenous Person General Secretary

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"Our call is not to use the militarist approach in solving the problems -- not just revising the military strategy for resolving the insurgency, but to ensure the resumption of the stalled peace alks between the government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front." "In order to solve the insurgency, the government should address the root cause of the problems in the country, especially the long awaited land reforms and poverty alleviation which will life up millions of Filipino masses who are struggling in their day to day life for freedome from hunder and poverty." - Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia General Secretary, World Council of Churches ■ Read full text of the Summary of Briefing by Rev. Kobia	About the World Council of Churches: The World Council of Churches (WCC) is a Christian ecumenical organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. It has a membership of over 340 churches and denominations with 550 million members throughout more than 120 countries. WCC has been very vocal about the human rights situation in the Philippines and has helped project the issue in the international community. Its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, visited the Philippines to personally see, hear and experience the aspirations, hopes and struggle of the Filipino people ■ About Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia ■ Go to resolutions on peace talks, corruption and others issued at the 22nd National Convention of the NCCP