|
x
 United
Church of Christ in the Philippines
1667 Dr. Antonio Vasquez St., Malate 1004 Manila, Philippines
P.O. Box 718, Manila Central Post Office, 1099 Ermita, Manila
Telephones :
(632) 536-8005
l
536-7110 l
536-7310
Fax
: (632) 536-8114
E-mail :
nationaloffice@uccp.org.ph
Website:
www.uccp.org.ph
June 16, 2011
Press Statement
Arroyo Had Command Responsibility of AFP,
Impunity Must End!
The United Church of Christ in the
Philippines (UCCP) is committed to ending the culture and climate of
impunity in the Philippines. To this end, today we file a legal suit
against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. While Arroyo was President and of the
Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
numerous Church Pastors and Church leaders were either been liquidated,
harassed, unlawfully, detained or tortured with impunity, by military
agents and operatives who, by law, were then all under the ultimate
control and command responsibility of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Representing UCCP as General Secretary, Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza
joins with six UCCP families as plaintiffs against Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
for damages to the Church and Co-Plaintiffs Human Rights Violations
Victims. Gloria Arroyo and the military agents for whom she was
responsible must be held accountable for the injustice they have exacted
on the Church and the Filipino people.
The courageous persons that unites in this
action represent:
·
Joel Baclao, UCCP
Coordinator of Disaster Relief Program “Andurog-Bicol”
at the time he was extra-judicially killed
on November 10, 2004
·
Rev. Edison Lapuz,
Conference Minister of the Northeastern Leyte Conference
at the time he was
extra-judicially killed on May 12, 2005.
·
Pastor Andy Pawican,
Licentiate Pastor assigned to UCCP congregation in Pantabangan
at the time he was extra-judicially
killed on May 21, 2006
·
Rev. Raul Domingo,
Deputy Conference Minister of Palawan Associate Conference
at the time he was extra-judicially killed on August 20, 2005
·
Noel “Noli” Capulong,
Chair of UCCP’s Christian Witness and Service Program in Calamba
at the time he was extra-judicially killed on May 27, 2006
·
and representing himself,
Pastor Berlin Guerrero, Licentiate Pastor of Northeast Southern Tagalog
Conference, who was abducted, illegally detained and tortured on
May 27, 2007.
From over one thousand documented Human
Rights Violations under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo, more than 18 persons killed extra-judicially, 1 person disappeared
and believed killed, 3 persons ambushed and wounded, and at least 4
persons abducted, illegally detained and tortured from the UCCP.
As the United Church of Christ in the
Philippines, we take action against the relentless persecution and
brutalization of the Church, especially being labeled as “ENEMY OF THE
STATE” through various counter-insurgency operation plans of the military
establishment. This false and malicious tagging has unjustly permitted
for UCCP persons to be “neutralized” in the name of so-called national
security,
Not only has then President and
Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo been prosecuted for the staggering number of extra-judicial
killings and human rights violations under her command, but neither have
any of the actual military perpetrators been brought to justice. We seek
justice for the surviving families of UCCP ordained ministers, pastors,
lay leaders and members who had been liquidated through extra-judicial
killing as well as those who had been ambushed and wounded, harassed,
tortured and illegally detained with impunity.
We covet the prayers and solidarity support
of the Filipino people as we take this action to break the culture and
climate of impunity in the Philippines and pursue justice for the victims
of human rights violations.
Bishop Reuel N.O. Marigza, General
Secretary (Contact through
Liaison: Rebecca 0919-828-9514)
Quadrennial Theme:
“Discerning and Obeying God’s Will in these Critical Times”
Member:
National Council of Churches in the Philippines
l
Christian Conference of Asia
l
World Council of Churches
l
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
(Presbyterian and Congregational)
l
World Methodist Council
l
Christian Peace Conference
l
United Evangelical Mission (UEM)
Download
statement in PDF format
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UCCP National Day of Action to End
Impunity.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
9am, Forum and Press Conference
UCCP Chapel, 877 EDSA, West Triangle Quezon City
11am, Liturgical Action and Filing of Case against Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Quezon City Regional Trial Court
Please support the UCCP in the filing of this civil case against Gloria
Macapagal Arroyo for human rights violations that occurred while she was
not only the highest public officer of the land, but also
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. We seek justice
for the surviving families of UCCP ordained ministers, pastors, lay
leaders and members who had been liquidated through extra-judicial killing
as well as those who had been ambushed and wounded, harassed, tortured and
illegally detained with impunity.
Highlighted cases include those of Rev. Edison Lapuz,
Conference Minister of the Northeastern Leyte Conference at the time he
was extra-judicially killed on May 12, 2005, Rev. Raul Domingo, Deputy
Conference Minister of Palawan Associate Conference at the time he was
extra-judicially killed on August 20, 2005 and Pastor Berlin Guerrero,
Licentiate Pastor of North-East Southern Tagalog Conference, who was
abducted, illegally detained and tortured on October 24, 2007. The UCCP
documented Human Rights Violations under the administration of President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo number more than 18 persons killed
extra-judicially, 1 person disappeared and believed killed, 3 persons
ambushed and wounded, and at least 4 persons abducted, illegally detained
and tortured. Many of the families and survivors will be joining the legal
suit.
Not only has then President and Commander-in Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo never been
prosecuted for the staggering number of extra-judicial killings and human
rights violations under her command, but neither have any of the actual
military perpetrators been brought to justice. As the United Church of
Christ in the Philippines, we covet your prayers and solidarity support as
we take this action to break the culture and climate of impunity in the
Philippines and pursue justice for the victims of Human Rights Violations.
Sincerely yours,
(Sgnd.)Bishop Reuel N.O. Marigza
General Secretary
--
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
National Office
1667 Dr. Antonio Vasquez Street,
Malate 1004 Manila
Philippines
|
