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1 Table of Contents The Editorial Board: Bishop Rex B. Reyes, Jr. Amid rights violations, calls for Editor in chief resumption of talks ring louder 3 Bishop Antonio J. Ledesma SJ, DD Associate editor ‘Land and social justice’ tackled in 5 Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez, Jr. forum Bishop Noel A. Pantoja Sr. Mary John Mananzan OSB Editorial Consultants Peace conversation continues 5 Mervin Sol Toquero Pastor Carlton James Palm Under siege? Cesar Villanueva 6 Editorial Assistants How service to the poor filled the Ofelia A. Cantor 9 Circulation Manager void in Sr. Ellen’s heart Peace Builder is a quarterly newsletter of the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform with editorial offices at: ‘Be a steward of creation, not de- 2nd floor NCCP Building struction’ 12 879 Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue cor. EDSA and Quezon Avenue Quezon City, Philippines Laudati Si and Peace forum held 14 Facebook: Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform EBF-North Luzon holds 1st work- Email: [email protected] shop on the environment and 15 peace Contact No: 0927-6303392 June - December 2019 Advocates on why we should push Volume 2 Issue No. 2 16 for peace talks “Because everyone will work for justice, there will be peace and security forever.” - Isaiah 32:17 2 Amid rights violations, calls for resumption of talks ring louder he call for the resumption of peace negotiations more military checkpoints in the earthquake-affected Tbetween the government and the National communities to ensure that only “legitimate” relief Democratic Front of the Philippines has rung louder workers have access to evacuation sites and to monitor amid the escalation of human rights violations in the the egress and ingress of residents. country. The Iloilo peace forum stressed the importance of In a forum dubbed as “Yes to all-out peace, No to strengthening ecumenical solidarity and for church all-out war” held in Iloilo City on Sept. 19, 2019, people to deepen their resolve to journey with the participants reflected on the Bible teachings and the oppressed. current situation in the country. The nearly a hundred participants, mostly seminarians, pointed out the state Earlier this year, a forum on the stalled peace talks was of unpeace in Mindanao with a martial law rule still held on May 23 to 26 in Surigao del Norte to engage in place. young churchgoers to call for its resumption. Human rights groups have long assailed the growing Their exposure and participation in the various rights violations in the region. Militarization, too, sessions and activities during the forum, “enabled has intensified after Martial Law Administrator and them to realize the need to know these issues besetting Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered for our church and the people of Mindanao.” 3 This made them become more resolved to “sustain the A church that liberates campaign for pushing for the resumption of the peace talks in their respective dioceses and parishes.” During the peace caravan, church workers listened to the human rights situation of the Mangyan people, Reaching out to IP communities particularly members of their grassroots organization Hagibbat. The dialogue allowed church workers to Meanwhile, a peace caravan was held on August become even more aware of their situation and to 28 - 29, 2019 in Mindoro. Led by UCCP Bishop further understand the Mangyan’s struggle for peace Joel Tendero, at least 95 church leaders and workers and the protection of their ancestral domain. travelled to different towns of the province to show their unwavering commitment in the pursuit of peace They also approved a resolution to help the Romblon and justice. Mindoro Ecumenical Movement to widen its support. The peace caravan particularly looked into the dire human rights situation in Mindoro, where indigenous peoples are experiencing massive militarization, aerial bombing, forced evacuations, harassments, and even killings. During the peace caravan, participants also listened to the plight of church workers of the United Methodist Church Glofie Baluntong and Rev. Willy Yasay as they narrated how they were harassed by the military for Sister Mary John Mananzan and other advocates ring bells of peace during an ecumenical providing sanctuary gathering in Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City. to human rights defenders in June They then headed to the Provincial Capitol of Mindoro 2019. Oriental to hold a dialogue with its provincial government. As church workers, Dr. Rommel Linatoc of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines said, it is the Bishop Solito Toquero of the United Methodist Church mandate of faith to uphold rights and human dignity. reminded the people during the peace caravan that He gave an input on the Comprehensive Agreement the Church is not merely an institution but rather a on the Respect for Human Rights and International movement that liberates the people. Humanitarian Law, a historic document signed in 1998 as a result of the peace negotiations between the Philippine With reports from Susan J. Ibelgaufts, Rev. Sharon government and the National Democratic Front of the Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, Christy Mae Quimno, Philippines. Marlyn B. Anicete, UCCP Bishop Joel E. Tendero 4 Photo by Dabet Panelo ‘Land and social justice’ tackled In its effort to raise awareness on the roots of the The forum also tackled the ongoing human rights armed conflict in the country, the Philippine Ecu- violations in Negros province, including the in- menical Peace Platform organized a forum on land famous Sagay 9 massacre, and the plight of the and peace on September 16, 2019 at the Redempto- Lumad of Mindanao. rist Seminary in Cebu. Among those who arrived were seminarians and Fr. Benjamin Alforque, MSC explained the impor- students from St. Scholastica’s Academy and the tance of agrarian reform in upholding social jus- Rogationist Seminary in Cebu. tice. This, he said, was among those discussed in the now stalled talks between the Government of the With reports from Kharl Vyncent Magbago, Rev. Fr. Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Nazario “Ace” Vocales, and Bulatlat. Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). Peace conversation continues At least 50 church workers, students, and lay at- husband, chairman of the local chapter of Kilusang tended a forum on the plight of farmers and the call Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, has been very active in for peace in a forum dubbed as “The Continuing the fight of farmers for their right to till. Conversations on Peace” on September 18, 2019 at the UCCP Cosmopolitan Church along Taft Ave- “Every attack against a farmer is an attack to the nue, Manila. country’s food security,” Udarde told the audience. Woman peasant Winnie Udarde shared how her The forum was organized by the UCCP Wednes- husband Ireneo was arrested in broad daylight on day Forum, in partnership with the Philippine Ec- January 28, 2019 in Cagayan de Oro City, along umenical Peace Platform. with Lumad leader Datu Jomorito Goaynon. Her 5 Under siege? hou shall not bear false witness against thy and faith-based organizations who uphold human rights “Tneighbor.” and human dignity are being attacked. Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David was resolute in The sedition charges against known critics, in fact, is just his strongly-worded statement when he cited the eight among the many apparent attempts to stifle dissent in the commandment upon learning that he was among the 36 country. respondents in the sedition charges filed by the police in relation to the infamous “Bikoy videos.” Ludicrous case? The viral Bikoy videos dubbed as “Ang Totoong Narcolist” The sedition charge, cyber libel, libel, and obstruction of linked President Rodrigo Duterte and his family to the justice complaints, were filed against 36 respondents, of illegal drug trade in the country. whom eight belong to the clergy. Known for being a vocal critic of the Duterte administration, The charges were based solely on claims of Peter Joemel Bishop Virgilio said such accusation is “not only unjust, Advincula, who came forward to say that he is behind the they are atrocious.” However, no matter how these may “Bikoy videos” and that the respondents met with him in seem beyond belief – the truth remains that church leaders a covert meeting to pin the Duterte family as the country’s Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David (Photo by Ciriaco Santiago Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, a vocal critic of President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs, is greeted by parishioners. 6 Nuns and supporters symbolically cast away the evil as they face the image of Gen. Hermogenes Esperon who filed perjury charges against human rights defenders. (Photo courtesy of RMP-NMR) biggest drug syndicate, which supposedly happened inside currently facing perjury charges before a Quezon City court. the compound of the Ateneo de Manila University. This after National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. claimed that RMP’s certificate of registration had been Advincula first surfaced to accuse President Duterte and revoked since 2003 when it sought a remedy before the his family of their supposed links to the illegal drug trade Philippine court to be protected in light of the widespread but later changed tune when he was already under police vilification and attacks against human rights defenders and custody. church workers. Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, Catholic Bishops’ RMP, however, said that the faith-based group has filed Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, vouched a petition for renewal of registration back in 2010 and for implicated members of the clergy, saying that they are subsequently submitted necessary documents required by “bishops whose sincerity, decency, respectfulness and love the Securities and Exchange Commission. They continue, in for our country and our people are beyond doubt.” fact, to operate as a non-government entity to this day. Apart from church leaders, other respondents to the case Sr.