Letter to Conference Committeee Members

A Letter to Members of the United States Congress from Church Leaders, Non-Governmental Organizations and Citizen Groups Regarding the Human Rights Crisis in the Philippines

December 3, 2007

Dear Members of the United States Congress,

We, the leaders and members of faith-based, Filipino-American, labor, and human rights organizations concerned with the on-going human rights crisis faced by our friends and colleagues in the Philippines’ civil society, wish to express our support and appreciation for the attention and efforts undertaken by members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees (H.R. 2764). In the weeks ahead, a joint conference committee will work to resolve the differences in the House and Senate versions, and we are calling to your attention the significant consequences for the Filipino people of the military aid being extended unchecked to the Government of the Philippines.

In August, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Philip Alston, reported to the United Nations General Assembly that:

Many in the Government have concluded that numerous civil society organizations are “fronts” for the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New People’s Army.” One response has been counter-insurgency operations that result in the extrajudicial execution of leftist activists. In some areas, the leaders of leftist organizations are systematically hunted down by interrogating and torturing those who may know their whereabouts, and they are often killed following a campaign of individual vilification designed to instill fear into the community. 1

This policy has resulted in extrajudicial executions aimed at eliminating “key civil society leaders, including human rights defenders, trade unionists, land reform advocates, and others.”2 The Government of the Philippines’ own Melo Commission, appointed to investigate the causes of the human rights abuses, found evidence to link the military to the killings. Furthermore, the Melo Commission also noted that “the likelihood . . . of violence increases after senior military officials label those organizations as communist fronts and ‘enemies of the state.’”

Human rights groups in the Philippines continue to report being wrongly targeted for human rights violations by Philippine military and paramilitary forces working with the military with impunity carried out openly and without fear of prosecution by the government. The Government of the Philippines continues to deny the military’s involvement in the killings,

1 United Nations, General Assembly. Interim Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Phillip Alston. August 16, 2007. A/62/265 at ¶14. Available at www.extrajudicialexecutions.org. 2 Id. at ¶13. claiming that “the Melo Commission clearly indicated that there was no evidence showing that the police and the military were the perpetrators of killings and other actions.”3 (emphasis added). These denials have prompted the U.N. Special Rapporteur to state that the military was in a “state of denial” about its role in the killings. Human Rights Watch (HWR) has cited this state of denial and the “unwillingness of senior military officials” to recognize command responsibility as a “roadblock” to prosecutions. This September, HRW noted that not one single case it investigated has been solved in the past year.

As a result of the attacks on certain segments of civil society, including church groups, clergy, opposition political parties, labor unions, and NGOs, democracy in the Philippines is suffering. Abuses by the military have prompted Freedom House, in its annual 2007 survey, to downgrade the Philippines from a “Free” democratic country to a “Partly Free” country, citing “minimal concrete steps to reduce these extrajudicial killings . . . [and] doubts as to whether the perpetrators would be held accountable under [Pres.] Arroyo, who remained heavily dependent on military support to stay in power.”

Section 688 of the Senate version, H.R. 2764 EAS, will help to ensure that U.S. military aid to the Philippines is not being used to further abuses by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It will condition the release of $2 million out of a total of $30 million in military aid to the Philippines on the State Department reporting that (1) the Philippine government is successfully implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings; (2) the Philippine government is investigating and prosecuting military personnel and others who have committed human rights violations; and (3) the Philippine government has ended its campaign against members of civil society organizations. These conditions are a necessary first step in ensuring that U.S. military aid does not directly or indirectly promote human rights violations and undermine democracy in the Philippines. They must remain in the final version of legislation.

We are very concerned, however, that the amount of military aid provided to the Philippines in the Senate bill is nearly three times the $11.1 million originally requested by the State Department for FY 2008. Increasing the amount of aid by $19 million over the State Department’s request has already sent a message to Philippine Government that the United States government supports the Philippine military’s counter-insurgency strategy cited by the U.N. Rapporteur as the cause of many serious human rights abuses. We urge the Committee to limit military aid to the Philippines to no more than $11.1 million, a figure that was not altered by the House. In addition, all of the military aid should be conditioned on the State Department reports described in H.R. 2764 EAS.

We also believe that transparency and accountability in the reporting process are vital so that people in both the United States and the Philippines will have a full understanding of the efforts by the United States Government to ensure that our military aid is not promoting human rights violations. Therefore, we urge that members of Congress ensure that the State Department’s reports regarding the end of the Philippine government’s campaign against civil society (Sec. 688, H.R. 2764 EAS) and the process used to monitor that military aid is not being misused by the Philippine government are made publicly available. (Sec. 671, H.R. 2764 EAS)

3 Statement by the Government of the Philippines to the International Labor Organization, June 2007. 2 We urge that the Committee ensure that the final version of H.R. 2764 will: (1) limit the amount of military aid to the Philippines to the $11.1 million requested by the State Department in the Congressional Budget Justification; Foreign Assistance and USAID Operations FY 2008 Budget Request. (2) ensure that the human rights conditions (Sec. 688, H.R. 2764 EAS) are applied to the entire amount of military aid to the Philippines; and (3) make publicly available the reports by the Department of State requested by the Senate committee in Sec. 671 and Sec. 688 in H.R. 2764 EAS in order to promote greater transparency and understanding between the United States and the people of the Philippines.

The rights and freedoms of the Filipino people depend on it.

If you wish to respond to this letter please contact Rev. Larry Emery at (916) 284-9686 / [email protected] or Katrina Abarcar at (443)-794-8836 / [email protected].

Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick Ramsey Clark Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Former US Attorney General Presbyterian Church, (USA) International Human Rights Attorney

The Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Bob Edgar Schori , Presiding Bishop and Primate President and Chief Executive Officer The Episcopal Church Common Cause International

Rev. John H. Thomas Rev. John L. McCullough General Minister and President Executive Director & Chief Executive United Church of Christ Officer Church World Service Rev. William G. Sinkford President James E. Winkler, General Secretary Unitarian Universalist Association of General Board of Church and Society Congregations United Methodist Church

Bishop Roy I. Sano Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte, Executive Secretary, The Council of Executive Minister Bishops Wider Church Ministries, The United Methodist Church United Church of Christ, Co-Executive, Andrew L. Stern Common Global Ministries Board International President Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Service Employees International Union and United Church of Christ

Robert B. Fisher, SVD Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos Vivat International Associate General Secretary for International Affairs and Peace Rose Therese Nolta, SSpS National Council of Churches USA Vivat International 3 Rev. Dr. David Vargas, President Rev. James Kofski, Associate Division of Overseas Ministries, Asia/Pacific and Middle East Issues Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Co-Executive of the Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church Amy Woolam Echeverria, Director (Disciples of Christ) and United Church Columban Missionaries Justice, Peace, of Christ and Integrity of Creation Office (The Rev Canon) Brian J Grieves Rev. Dr. Xiaoling Zhu Director, Peace and Justice Ministries Area Executive for East Asia and the The Episcopal Church Pacific New York, New York Common Global Ministries Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Derek Duncan and United Church of Christ Associate for Global Advocacy and Education C. Christopher Epting, Bishop Common Global Ministries of Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith the Christian Church (Disciples of Relations Christ) and United Church of Christ The Episcopal Church Neil Watkins Bishop Beverly J. Shamana National Coordinator California Nevada Annual Conference Jubilee USA Network United Methodist Church West Sacramento, California Kristin Sundell, M.Div. Director of Advocacy and Organizing David Robinson Jubilee USA Network Executive Director Pax Christi USA: Ethan Vesely-Flad National Catholic Peace Movement Editor, Fellowship magazine Fellowship of Reconciliation Bama Athreya, Executive Director International Labor Rights Forum Rev. Emmanuel Orendain, Pastor (ILRF) Calvary Filipino Presbyterian Church Wilmington, California Brian Campbell, Attorney Moderator, International Labor Rights Forum National Filipino Presbyterian Council Presbyterian Church (USA) Prof. Howard Zinn Professor Emeritus, Alex Vergara Department of Political Science President Boston University National Association of Filipino Boston, Maryland American United Methodists

T. Michael McNulty, SJ Pong Javier, Dir. of Communication and Justice and Peace Director Information Conference of Major Superiors of Men National Association of Filipino (CMSM) American United Methodists

Marie Dennis, Director Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns 4 Jon Melegrito Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback Communications Director Conference Minister National Federation of Filipino Central Atlantic Conference United American Associations (NaFFAA) Church of Christ

Rev. Kathryn J. Johnson Sally Hinchman Executive Director, Methodist General Executive Federation for Social Action Presbyteries of Sacramento, Stockton and Nevada Tina M. Foster, Executive Director Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) International Justice Network Rev. Jay Olsen Sara Flounders Associate Executive Teresa Gutierrez Presbyteries of Sacramento, Stockton National Co-Directors and Nevada International Action Center Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)

Zack Knorr Rev. Dr. Rich Schlosser International Campaigns Coordinator Director United Students Against Sweatshops California Council of Churches

Rick Ufford-Chase Barbara Farley Executive Director Moderator Presbyterian Peace Fellowship Presbytery of Sacramento (PCUSA) Sacramento, California Nestor Villatoro President Rev. Bryce Little and Phyllis Little American Guatemalan Association Mission Co-Workers in Spain & (AGUA) Portugal Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Galatea King, Co-Chair Filipino/American Coalition for Rev. Jose Olagues Environmental Solidarity (FACES) Associate Executive The Presbytery of Grand Canyon Inday Day (PCUSA) Executive Director Phoenix, Arizona National Federation of Asian American United Methodists Rev. Ben Larson-Wolbrink Campus Minister Seamus P. Finn Presbyterian Campus Ministry OMI Director Tucson, Arizona Justice, Peace/Integrity of Creation Office Missionary Oblates of Mary The Honorable Chris Daly, Supervisor Immaculate City and County of San Francisco San Francisco, California Christina Cobourn Herman Justice Peace / Integrity of Creation Office, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

5 Rev. Michael Yoshii Rev. Leomyr de Jesus, Pastor Buena Vista United Methodist Church Filipino American Evangelical Church United Methodist Church California- (UCC) Nevada Annual Conference Fremont, California Co-Coordinator Philippine Task Force Alameda, California The Rev. Kathryn Schreiber Hayward United Church of Christ Rev. Ruth Cortez (retired) Hayward, California United Methodist Church California- Nevada Annual Conference Rev. David Hill, Pastor Co-Coordinator Philippine Task Force Grace Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Lodi, California Mara Ibarra, Vice President National Alliance for Filipino Concerns Dr. Pam Brubaker (NAFCON) - Northern California Professor, Religious Studies California Lutheran University Rev. Pam Fine, Pastor Los Angeles, California Wesley United Methodist Church Bakersfield, California Beverly Tang Anakbayan William McKinney, President Los Angeles, California Pacific School of Religion Berkeley, California Apollo Victoria Habi Arts Rev. Debbie Lee, Director Los Angeles, California Pacific Asian North America Institute (PANA) Kathryn Poethig Pacific School of Religion Associate Professor, Global Studies Berkeley, California California State University Monterey Bay Fe Koons, Chairperson Philippine Action Group for the Dr. Angie Ngoc Tran Environment Professor, Political Economy Carson, California California State University Monterey Bay Rev. H. Wilson de Ocera United Methodist Church Dr. Gerald Shenk Daly City, California Associate Professor, Social History California State University Professor Rowena M. Tomaneng Monterey Bay Co-Director, Institute of Community and Civic Engagement Armael Malinis, Chairman De Anza College, California Anak Bayan East Bay Oakland/Union City, California Rev. Dennis Duhaylongsod Filipino-American United Church of Lillian Galedo, Executive Director Christ Filipinos for Affirmative Action Fremont, California Oakland, California

6 Rev. Ella Ray Toscano, Pastor Rev. Richard Wylie (retired) First Congregational Church (UCC) Associate Executive Rio Vista, California Synod of the Pacific, Presbyterian Church (USA) Dr. David Thompson, Pastor Sacramento, California Rev. Gary Cox, Associate Pastor Westminster Presbyterian Church The Rev. Warren Lee, Ph.D. (PCUSA) Professor of Ministry in Asian American Sacramento, California Context San Francisco Theological Seminary Rev. Larry Emery, San Anselmo, California Pastor, Community Presbyterian Church Chairperson, Philippine Partnership The Rev. Walt Davis, Ph.D. Committee Professor Emeritus of the Sociology of Presbytery of Sacramento (PCUSA) Religion Walnut Grove, California San Francisco Theological Seminary San Anselmo, California Rev. E. Dexter McNamara, Director Inter-Faith Service Bureau Rachel R. Redondiez, Co-Founder Sacramento, California Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines Rev. Philip Trinh, Pastor San Francisco, California Bethany Vietnamese Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Terrence Valen, Executive Director Sacramento, California Filipino Community Center San Francisco, California Rev Agustinus Tiwa, Pastor Sacramento Indonesian Presbyterian Marisa Mariano Fellowship (PCUSA) Chair, BABAE Sacramento, California San Francisco, California

Rev. Jack Raymore, Pastor Father Art Balagat Rev. Jean Shaw, Associate Pastor St. Anthony Catholic Church Northminster Presbyterian Church San Jacinto, California (PCUSA) Sacramento, California Dr. Jennifer Rycenga Rev. Ginny Curinga, Pastor Professor, Comparative Religious Sierra Arden United Church of Christ Studies Sacramento, California San José State University, San José, California Rev Aart Van Beek, Pastor Parkview Presbyterian Church(PCUSA) Dr. Victoria Rue Sacramento, California Faculty, Comparative Religious Studies San José State University, San José, Rev. Warren Barnes, Pastor California Grace Presbytrerian Church (PCUSA) Sacramento, California Rev. Dante Simon, Pastor Rev Reuel Talapian, Associate Pastor St. Paul's United Methodist Church Stockton, California 7 Alan Cook Rev. Sandra K. Owewine Director of Family Ministries Pastor, The Neighborhood United Central Methodist Church Methodist Church Stockton, California Long Beach, CA

Rev. Byron Nelson, Pastor Carl Halpern, Director Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Alameda Multi-Cultural Center Stockton, California Alameda, California

Rev. Alex Cambe Herbert Behnstock, Board President United Methodist Church United Nations Association - East Bay Sutter Creek, California Berkeley, California

Rev. L. Don Smith, Pastor Rev. Dr. Benoni Silva-Netto First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) District Superintendent Tracy, California Shasta District, United Methodist Church Linda Blagburn, Program Staff Chico, California San Francisco Presbytery San Francisco, California Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Virts District Superintendent Rev. Lily M. Villamin Delta District, United District Superintendent Methodist Church Long Beach District Office UMC California-Nevada Annual Lakewood, Ca. Conference West Sacramento, California Rev. Brian Stein-Webber, Executive Director Rev. David Bunje Interfaith Council of Contra Counsel Chair, Board of the Ordained Walnut Creek, California Ministry United Methodist Church Pastor Sharom Brostrom, Pastor California-Nevada Annual Grace Lutheran Church Conference Richmond California West Sacramento, California

Rev Ken Chambers, Pastor Rev. Jane E. Schlager, District West Side Missionary Baptist Church Superintendent Oakland, California Golden Gate District United Methodist Church Rev Peggy Cross, Pastor California-Nevada annual St. Stephens Presbyerian Church Conference (PCUSA) San Francisco, California North Highlands, California Rev. Dr. Betsy Laddie Perez-Galang, Chairperson Schwarzentraub Asian American Ministry Caucus United Methodist Foundation CA-NV Annual Conference – California-Nevada Annual The United Methodist Church Conference Pittsburg, CA West Sacramento, California

8 Rev. Dr. Felicisimo S. Cao, Rev. Myrna Bernadel-Huey, Pastor Pastor Valley Faith United Methodist First United Methodist Church Church San Leandro, California Sunnyvale, California Rev. Dan Sturdivant, Pastor Rev. Reynaldo J. Letana, Byron United Methodist Pastor Church Grace United Methodist Byron, California Church San Francisco, California Rev. Linda Dew-Hiersoux, Pastor Rev. Jola Bortner, Pastor St. Mark’s United Methodist St. Mark’s United Methodist Church Church Sacramento, California Stockton, California Rev. David Leeper Moss, Rev. Carol Carter, Pastor Pastor North Sacramento United Chico Trinity United Methodist Church Methodist Church Sacramento, California Chico, California

Rev. Martin Murdock, Pastor Rev. Maile Koloto, Pastor First United Methodist Church Laurel United Methodist Redding, California Church Oakland, California Rev. Allen Yan Chamberlain, Pastor Rev. Kaluseti Fisi’ihoi, Pastor First Untied Methodist Church Laurel United Methodist Fremont, California Church Oakland, California Rev. James Garrison, Pastor Georgetown United Methodist Rev. Alan Kimber, Pastor Church First United Methodist Church Georgetown, California Lodi, California

Rev. Debra L. Brady, Pastor Rev. Neal Harrell, Pastor Modesto First United Point Pleasant United Methodist Church Methodist Church Modesto, California Elk Grove, California

Rev. Jinsik Lee, Pastor Rev. Cynthia Hamilton, Pastor Petaluma United Methodist First United Methodist Church Church Modesto, California Petaluma, California Rev. Carol Layton, Pastor Rev. Peter Lau, Pastor Crescent City United Chinese community United Methodist Church Methodist Church Crescent City, California Oakland, California 9 Rev. Dale Weatherspoon, Rev. Kathleen LaPoint-Collup, Pastor Pastor First United Methodist Church Elk Grove United Methodist Redwood City, California Church Elk Grove, California Rev. Robert Jones, Pastor Oak Park United Methodist Rev. Linda Prendergrast, Church Pastor Sacramento, California Pinole United Methodist Church Rev. Siosifa Setoki, Pastor Pinole, California Trinity United Methodist Church Rev. Pamela Kurtz, Pastor Sunnyvale, California Twin Towers United Methodist Church Rev. Christine Banfill, Pastor Alameda, California Orland Federated Church Orland, California Rev. Kathleen Smith, Pastor Community United Methodist Rev. David Niu, Pastor Church Escalon United Methodist Los Molinos, California Church Escalon, California Rev. Robin Matthews- Johnson, Pastor Rev. Rochelle Frazier, Pastor First United Methodist Church First United Methodist Church Watsonville, California Oroville, California Rev. Karen Watson, Pastor Rev. Lisa Warner-Carey, Trinity United Methodist Pastor Church Ukiah United Methodist Colusa, California Church Ukiah, California Rev. Maggie McNaught, Pastor Rev. Scott Wylie, Pastor First United Methodist Church Aldersgate United Methodist Loomis, California Church San Rafael, California Rev. Kathleen Love, Pastor Fair Oaks United Methodist Elmar De Ocera, Pastor Church Delano United Methodist Fair Oaks, California Church Delano, California Rev. May Elyn Bahlert, Pastor Lake Merrit United Methodist Rev. Dr. Gaye G. Benson, Church Pastor Oakland, California El Sobrante United Methodist Church El Sobrante, California

10 Rev. Denise K. Leslie, Pastor Malaya Arevalo Memorial United Methodist Health Educator Church Asian Americans for Community Clovis, California Involvement San Jose, California Rev. Nancy Landauer, Pastor First United Methodist Church Dr. Peter Chua Sunnyvale, Chair Critical Filipino and Filipina Studies Rev. Ardyss Golden, Pastor Collective Hollister United Methodist San Jose, California Church Hollister, California Lyle Prijoles Chairperson Rev. Alexis Easton, Pastor League of Filipino Students- San Brentwood Community United Francisco State University Chapter Methodist Church Daly City/ San Francisco, CA Brentwood, California Bill Habicht, M.Div., M.S.W. Rev. Kathleen McShane, Davis Community Church Pastor Davis, California First United Methodist Church Sacramento, California Margee Ensign, Dean Associate Provost for International Rev. Kristie Olah, Pastor Initiatives Good Samaritan United School of International Studies Methodist Church University of the Pacific Cupertino, California Stockton, California

Rev. Pamela Cummings, Bill Antone, Pastor Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Sonoma United Methodist Pacific Area Councilor Church Chula Vista, California Sonoma, California Dr. Jorge Emmanuel Rev. Rod E. Brayfindley, E & ER Group Pastor Vallejo, California Church of Joyful Healer United Methodist Church Rev. Daniel Klawitter, Pastor McKinleyville, California United Methodist Church Denver, Colorado Brenda Baca, Pastor Temple United Methodist Emira Woods, Co-Director Church Foreign Policy in Focus San Francisco, California Washington, DC

Annie Sayo Coorindator Filipino Community Support (FOCUS) Silicon Valley, California 11 Dr. Robin Broad Rev. Fabian M. Summers, Pastor Professor Christ Church Uniting Disciples and International Development Program Presbyterians School of International Service Kailua, Hawaii American University Washington, DC Gigi Miranda Media Resource Coordinator Professor Maria S. Floro 'Olelo Community Television Department of Economics Honolulu, Hawaii American University Nicki Garces, State Chair Washington, DC NaFFAA-Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Rev. John W. Wimberly, Pastor Western Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Debby Andres, Chair Washington, DC Anakbayan-Honolulu Honolulu, Hawaii Diana Galindo, MD Miami, Florida Rev. Rita M Root, President Conference Council JoAnn Yoon Fukumoto Illinois Conference of the United Church Peace with Justice Educator of Christ California Pacific Conference Rev. Richard Williams, Campus United Methodist Church Minister, Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Pearl City, Hawaii Agape House at the University of Illinois at Chicago Rev. Barbara Grace Ripple Chicago, Illinois Trinity United Methodist Church Pearl City, Hawaii Rev. Lisl Heymans, Campus Minister, United Methodist Church Rev. James E. Brooking Agape House at the University of Illinois West Kauai United Methodist Church at Chicago Kekaha, Hawaii Co-Coodinator, Northern Illinois Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Jose Bulatao, Jr. Social Action Chairman, Administrative Board Chicago, Illinois West Kauai United Methodist Church Kekaha, Hawaii Juanita Salvador-Burris Coordinator Rev. Colleen Chun Filipino Human Rights Coalition of Trinity United Methodist Church Chicago. Pearl City, Hawaii Chicago, Illinois

Daya Mortel Angela Mascarenas Chair Executive Director Sandiwa - National Filipino American CIRCA-Pintig Youth Alliance Chicago, Illinois Honolulu, Hawaii

12 Jerry Clarito Rev. Douglas E. Wingeier, Ph.D. Director Emeritus Professor of Practical Filipino Civil Rights Advocates Theology, Garrett-Evangelical Chicago, Illinois Theological Seminary Evanston, Illinois Shelley Milosevich Philippine Solidarity Project Rev. Dick Clark, Pastor Chicago, Illinois St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church Peace with Justice Coordinator Rev. Julius A. Montero, Jr. Cedar Falls, Iowa Faith Community Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Rev. David Braak Chicago, Illinois Ankeny Presbyterian Church Ankeny, Iowa Rev. Deborah Paton St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Rev. William Coop (PCUSA) Co-Chair, Bi-National Service Chicago, Illinois Presbyterian Church (USA) Brunswick, Maine Rev. Brenda Barnes-Jamieson Presbyterian Church of Norwood Park Sister Brigid Lawlor (PCUSA) Congregational Leader Chicago, Illinois Sisters of the Good Shepherd Silver Spring, Maryland Arnaldo C. de Villa Human Rights Coalition Katrina Abarcar Chicago, Illinois Coordinator Katarungan: Committee for Peace, Rev. Daniel Dale Justice, and Human Rights in the Wellington Avenue United Church of Philippines Christ Owings Mills, Maryland Chicago, Illinois Rev. Arthur Waidmann (retired) Rev. Matthew Lang Acting Associate Conference Minister Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Des Potomac Association Plaines Central Atlantic Conference United Des Plaines, Illinois Church of Christ Silver Spring, Maryland Rev. Mamie Broadhurst First United Church of Oak Park Mary Hunt, Ph.D. (PCUSA/UCC) WATER (Women's Alliance for Oak Park, Illinois Theology, Ethics and Ritual) Silver Spring, Maryland Rev. Jenny Gleichauf Winnetka Congregational Church Rev. Dana Allen Walsh Winnetka, Illinois Associate Minister, Hancock United Church of Christ Lexington, Maryland

13 Rev. Cynthia A. Maybeck Thomas Liddle Trinity Church Chairperson, Philippines Partnership Northborough, Maryland Committee Peace United Church of Christ Sr. M. Carol McClenon, RGS Interim Duluth, Minnesota Coordinator National Advocacy Center Gary W. King, PhD The Sisters of the Good Shepherd President Silver Spring, Maryland Philippine Scholars Fridley, Minnesota Rev. Roger N. Pohl (UCC) Ecumenical Center and International Meg Layese Residence Coordinator Ann Arbor, Michigan Philippine Study Group of Minnesota St. Paul, Minnesota Mary Grant Minnesota Conference Coordinator of Rev. Glen N. Herrington-Hall Peace with Justice Director of Admissions United Methodist Church United Theological Seminary of the Minneapolis, Minnesota Twin Cities Chair, Philippine Partnership Task Eleazar S. Fernandez, Ph.D. Force, Professor of Theology Minnesota Conference of the UCC United Theological Seminary of the St. Paul, Minnesota Twin Cities New Brighton, Minnesota Elsa Batica, Co-Chair Filipino American Women's Network Paul R. Bloom, Ph.D. Minnesota Chair Minneapolis, Minnesota Human Rights Committee Philippine Study Group of Minnesota Rev. Richard Wagner, Pastor St. Paul, Minnesota Union Congregational United Church of Christ Rev. Peter Monkres, Pastor St. Louis Park, Minnesota First Congregational Church Grand Marais, Minnesota Michael Thompson Mental Health Therapist Rev. Kathryn Nelson, Lead Pastor Minneapolis, Minnesota Peace United Church of Christ Duluth, Minnesota Rev. Roxanne Grant-Atkinson New Song Disciples of Christ Faith Rev. John Clark Pegg, Community Retired Pastor Kansas City, Missouri Peace United Church of Christ Duluth, Minnesota Rev. James Houston-Hencken, Pastor First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) The Congregation of Peace Las Vegas, Nevada United Church of Christ Duluth, Minnesota

14 Rev. Dixie Jennings-Teats, Pastor Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, Ph.D. First United Methodist Church Vice President for Academic Affairs and Carson City, Nevada Academic Dean Professor of Theology and Culture Rev. Bruce Taylor, Pastor New York Theological Seminary Spanish Springs Presbyterian Church New York, New York (PCUSA) Sparks, Nevada Clare Nolan Rev. John Auer, Pastor Sisters of the Good Shepherd Rev. John H. Emerson, Pastor Emeritus New York, New York First United Methodist Church Reno, Nevada Julia Camagong Executive Director Chito Quijano Philippine Forum Union Organizer New York, New York California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee Rev. Dr. Elizabeth S. Tapia, Director Reno, Nevada Center for Christianities in Global Context Rev. Dr. Thomas C. E. Lobaugh, Pastor Drew University Summerlin Presbyterian Church Madison, New Jersey (PCUSA) Las Vegas, Nevada Rev. Sherry Mason Taylor, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Dion R. Tanion, Pastor United Church of Christ Asian American Ecumenical Church - Plainfield, New Jersey UCC Cresskill Congregational Church Berna Ellorin Cresskill, New Jersey New York Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines Rev. Rusty Eidmann-Hicks New York, New York Holmdel Community UCC Holmdel, New Jersey Valerie Franciso Secretary-General Rev. Adam Tietje, Associate Minister Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment Holmdel Community United Church of New York, New York Christ Holmdel, New Jersey Henry Soliveres Community Health Worker Emerito F. Salud, Esq. Advocacy Project AsPIRE Director New York, New York National Federation of Filipinos- American Associations (NaFFAA), Rev. Douglas Cunningham, Pastor Region 1 Bethany United Methodist Church Jersey City, New Jersey Brooklyn, New York

Rev. Dr. James K. Law Senior Pastor Chinese United Methodist Church New York, New York 15 Michelle Lim-Jones, Ph.D. Scott Brunger, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Constructive Professor of Economics Theology and Culture Maryville College New York Theological Seminary Louisville, Tennessee New York, New York Haniel Garibay Tim and Linda McGloin Resurrection United Methodist Church Friends of the Filipino People Chesapeake, Virginia Durham, North Carolina Olma Garibay Rev. Wesley N. Yamaka (retired) Deaconess The United Methodist Church United Methodist Church Keizer, Oregon Chesapeake, Virginia

Claire Oliveros Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire Chairperson Executive Director Portland Committee for Human Rights Migrant Heritage Commission in the Philippines Arlington, Virginia Portland, Oregon Dante Simbulan, Adviser Rev. Dr. W. Darwin Collins, Regional Katarungan: Committee for Peace, Justice, Minister and President, and Human Rights in the Philippines Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Former Director, Church Coalition for New Stanton, Pennsylvania Human Rights in the Philippines Burke, Virginia Armand Mathew, OMI UTB/TSC Center for Civic Engagement Robert McCauley Cueto Building Chairperson Brownsville, Texas US Committee for Labor and Human Rights in the Philippines Patti Radle Seattle, Washington Chair Fellowship of Reconciliation San Bret Jellinick Antonio Chairperson San Antonio, Texas Philippine-US Solidarity Organization Seattle, Washington Fr. Robert Wright OMI Oblate School of Theology Sincere Born San Antonio, Texas Chairperson AnakBayan Seattle Brend Hardt Seattle, Washington Peace With Justice co-coordinator Texas Conference of United Methodist Ronald Antonio Church Chairperson Houston, Texas Arts Kollective Organizing Committee Seattle, Washington

Joanne Alcantara Chair, Pinay sa Seattle Seattle, Washington 16 Rev. Tom Marti, MM William J. Hall St. James Cathedral Elder Seattle, Washington First Presbyterian Church Wausau, Wisconsin Annalisa Cabales, Coordinator Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in Rev. Scott Marrese-Wheeler the Philippines Pastor Seattle, Washington First Presbyterian Church Marshfield, Wisconsin Ago Martinez, Coordinator Ecumenical Fellowship for Justice and Rev. Stephen Hamilton Wright Peace Pastor Seattle, Washington First Presbyterian Church Wausau, Wisconsin Arturo Garcia, Coordinator PESANTE Bishop Linda Lee Seattle, Washington Wisconsin Conference United Methodist Church Mario Santos SEIU- United Healthcare Workers West Seattle, Washington

Prof. Chera Amlag South Seattle Community College Seattle, Washington

Wess Harris, President Appalachian Community Services, Inc., Gay, West Virginia

Rev. Scott D.Anderson Director Wisconsin Council of Churches Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Rev. David Liddle Interim Pastor First Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) Hudson, Wisconsin

John Bruning Student Labor Action Coalition Madison, Wisconsin

Marian Seagren Hall Elder First Presbyterian Church Wausau, Wisconsin