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The blood of martyrs water the lilies of freedom

December 10, 2005

With deep sorrow, we denounce the brutal slaying of Jose “Pepe” Manegdeg, III on the night of November 28, 2005 along the national highway in San Esteban, llocos Sur.

At the time of his assassination, Pepe was Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Coordinator of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines. He was indefatigable in nurturing ecumenical work in the grassroots, sowing the seeds of denominational cooperation based on genuine service to the poor and rousing church people to reclaim their prophetic ministry. He was a tireless worker for genuine peace and justice. In all these, Pepe radiated a gentle spirit, kindness and a high level of patience in dealing with all whom he met. He was a man of peace. He did not deserve a violent death.

We further condemn the similar fate of Albert Terredano who was gunned down in Bangued, Abra hours after the slaying of Pepe. Albert was the president of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Employees Association, an affiliate of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE). He is a paralegal volunteer of the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Legal Center (DINTEG).

Pepe and Albert join the ranks of martyrs -church people, human rights advocates, members of the media, farmers, workers and indigenous peoples - which, has swelled to an alarming degree under the present regime.

Will Pepe and Albert’s brutal death be resolved? Will the perpetrators of these dastardly acts be caught and brought to the bar of justice?

With the long list of peace and human rights advocates who have been killed under similar circumstances and most especially with the silence of the national government amidst these killings, we cannot help but doubt if justice will ever be meted out. Like Saul who stood by the sides as bloodthirsty people stoned Stephen to death, the government remains silent on these killings. Like Saul who was in silent agreement with the brutality of it all, President Arroyo’s silence is now fully understood as a tacit approval of this bloodshed. The blood of Pepe and Albert are in her hands.

Pepe and Albert’s violent deaths may have jarred the people’s march for genuine peace and justice. But only for a moment, these have not quenched the fire for freedom. On one hand, the killings will certainly increase the number of people who shall have fully understood what Pepe and Albert stood and worked for, unceasingly. On the other hand, these has exposed further the Arroyo regime for what it is - a government that will silence its citizens who dare speak out in the name of freedom and truth. In both cases, more people have been roused to the compelling need to continue fighting until peace and justice reigns in this land.

May the God of freedom and Lord of our story listen to our cry for justice! One day soon, our God shall act through the people - even now God is acting - and the lowly shall be lifted up while the proud and the haughty shall be crushed.

Guided by the God of freedom, we continue to hope, appeal and call for justice.
STOP POLITICAL KILLINGS!
JUSTICE TO ALL VICTIMS OF STATE TERRORISM!

Signed:
MS. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES, General Secretary, NCCP
REV. PETER ALANGUI, Chairperson, Regional Ecumenical Council In the Cordillera (RECCORD)
REV. DR. BENJAMIN P. JUSTO, Resident Bishop, BEA, The United Methodist Church
SR. ELENITA BELARDO, RGS, Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
BP. BENJAMIN LASEGAN, President, Lutheran Church in the Philippines
REV. FR. EMELYN DACUYCUY, Ilocos Human Rights Advocates
ATTY. JOSE MOLINTAS, Cordillera Indigenous Peoples Legal Center
ATTY. REYNALDO CORTES, Chairperson, Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
ATTY. MARCELITO BARBERO, Chairperson, Abra Human Rights Advocates
FR. JOSEPH REQUINO
MS. ERLINDA C. PALAGANAS, UP Professor
MS. CELIA AUSTRIA, UP Professor
DR. ANA MARIE LEUNG, MD.

APIT-TAKO, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), GABRIELA-Ilocos, CORDILLERA AFONG-SELDA, INNABUYOG-GAbriela Cordillera, ANAKBAYAN-Cordillera, Save the Abra River Movement (STARM), BAYAN-MUNA, BAYAN-Ilocos, Stop Exploitation-KMP-Ilocos, SILAW-Amihan, ANAKBAYAN-ILOCOS, Promotion of Church Peoples Response (PCPR-Ilocos Norte and Cordillera), MIGRANTE-Cordillera

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