Appellate court releases UCCP pastor

2 MIN READ

BAGUIO CITY – A United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) Pastor was ordered released by a Court of Appeals’ justice September 11, some 15 months after an alleged politically-motivated multiple murder case was filed by the military against him.

Pastor Berlin Guererro was ordered temporary released by CA Justice Villarama as there was no evidence presented by his arresting officer, Rev. Rex Reyes Jr. , Secretary-General of the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP) said in an interview here.

A rare occasion being done by the court, Pastor Berlin was released through the recognizance of ex-Senate Pres. Jovito Salonga and UN Judge Romeo Capulong after the government lawyers posed no objections when asked by Villarama, added Reyes.

Nordis learned that Berlin was doing his spiritual work in Calamba, Laguna and had been at the Cavite Provincial Jail for 15 months. After he was abducted by the military, a case was filed against Berlin which is believed by his fellow church workers as politically-motivated, due to his advocacy on farmers issues, explained an NCCP staff.

Jubilation

In a statement, NCCP welcomed the news and commended the CA for conducting the hearing with dispatch.

“The National Council of Churches in the Philippines shares the jubilation on the release of Pastor Berlin Guerrero. We greet Berlin’s parents, his family, the UCCP household and all the people who rejoice when justice casts a drop of water on the parched lips of victims unjustly wronged,” said the NCCP statement.

There are lessons to be affirmed following the illegal arrest and 15-months incarceration of Pastor Berlin, said the statement adding: “Among them are the importance of resilience and endurance, the necessity of common prayer and action and the undying faith in the unquenchable aspiration of the people for freedom.

He was able to perform his ministry in the said jail to his fellow inmates, who, a source quoted (the inmates), would miss the spiritual job that he (Berlin) did.

The release of Berlin affirmed and exposed the falsehood of the accusation against him, the NCCP statement added. “Every suffering brought upon those who struggle for peace and justice is a defiance of the cowardly and the sycophants – an indictment of the powers and principalities who cause misery to others as their bellies have become their gods.”

“While we rejoice that Pastor Berlin is out from the prison cell, this is also a reminder that many of us are yet in prison because this country has not yet experienced genuine freedom. So many are hungry and angry, so many are landless and poor, so many are oppressed and suffering. All these and those yet in the four-walled prison cells are not faceless people. They are the face of Jesus Christ,”NCCP added.

Reyes said, church people are among the victims of the government’s “witch-hunting” by falsely accusing church workers of various cases in court without sufficient evidence.

Church workers are also not spared from the extra-judicial killings as 27 church workers had been killed since Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had been installed to the presidency in 2001.

Berlin, according to Reyes, is now with family. # Arthur L. Allad-iw