Month: July 2021

Church people Cry out: Uphold human dignity, fight for social justice!

Core of our faith is embracing the cause of the poor and the downtrodden, and journeying with them in their long quest for social justice, no matter the tremendous odds. Our love of God is manifested in our love not only for our neighbor but of country. It is thus our moral obligation to actively take part in building genuine democracy.

These are dark times for the Philippines as we witness brazen violations of the sanctity of life in various ways – from anti-people economic policies, to extrajudicial killings that have caught the attention of the international community, rampant corruption and traditional patronage politics, and continued sell out of our patrimony and sovereignty.

The May 9, 2022 elections provide an avenue for the faithful to demonstrate their rejection of these anti-people ways, and reclaim human dignity towards genuine development that favors the common good instead of the elite few. One way is by supporting candidates whose track record and platform demonstrate their service to the people. Candidates with known probity and integrity on human rights, good governance, and love of country are vital in ensuring that the current regime (whether through circumvention of the law or proxy) is ended.

In the search for genuine servant leaders, we thus propose categorical stance on the following:

1. Uphold human dignity and oppose attacks on people’s rights. Clear opposition to the Anti-Terrorism Law and other repressive measures used to silence government’s perceived critics; is part of efforts, national and international, or has taken a stance demanding accountability of State perpetrators of extrajudicial killings, especially on the sham War on Drugs, counterinsurgency program and on Moro peoples under the guise of war in Mindanao. This also includes clear stance respecting and upholding the rights of women, indigenous and other peoples, workers and farmers.

2. Support pro-people economic policies. This means putting an end to all forms of contractualization; support for job security and decent wages; promotion of a land to the tiller program, and support for local farmers towards agricultural productivity; development of local industries; protection of overseas Filipino workers; and rejection of regressive taxes and onerous loans.

3. Anti- political dynasty. Rejects domination of the same elite families in various levels of governance, and favors building of genuine leaders supporting grassroots and community empowerment.

4. Anti-corruption. Sterling track record and has not been involved in any case involving misuse of people’s money or doing favors to enrich family and supporters. Consistent in calling out branches of government, especially the Executive, in corruption issues including the Philhealth 15 B scandal, among many others.

5. Champion of national patrimony and sovereignty. Upholds an independent policy that protects the rights of the Filipino people above all. This includes taking a stance against Chinese aggression and plunder of the West Philippine Sea, and on unequal treaties with the United States such as the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).  Protects patrimony by rejecting large-scale foreign mining and other so-called development projects that drives away and destroys indigenous peoples communities.

6. Advocate of Just and Lasting Peace.  Categorically supports efforts to address the roots of the armed conflict, including peace processes with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro; rejects militarist solutions and adheres to previous agreements such as the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as basis of negotiations.

Faithfulness to public service is measured in many ways, but the one barometer of this is actual stance on these concrete issues. The real test of truth and knowledge is in practice.

“Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.” (Psalms 85:11)   -Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 183

15 July 2021

Re:  Compassionate Release of Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr. and Antonio Molina, Political Prisoners terminally ill and suffering under detention   

Dear friends,

Greetings of peace!

We are writing today to request the inclusion of prayers and intentions for the Compassionate Release of Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr. and Antonio Molina—Political Prisoners terminally ill and suffering under detention— in your masses, services, and church/parish activities.  We are kicking off this effort on July 18, 2021 and hope that you can join us through appropriate forms and sensible actions according to your church traditions and programs. 

We look forward to raising the profile of Rimando and Molina through a prayer and action campaign, supporting local initiatives and developing ecumenical cooperation in the weeks ahead!

Who are Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando and Antonio Molina?

Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr., 55 years old, a peasant organizer of the National Federation of Sugar Workers, is diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis, Chronic Hepatitis B, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Stasis Dermatitis R/O Peripheral Vascular Disease. On 6 January 2021, Rimando was arbitrarily arrested by elements of the Philippine National Police at Sapphire St., Brgy. Payatas B, Quezon City.  He is currently detained at Metro Manila District Jail Annex 2, Lower Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila. 

Antonio Molina, a 66-year-old political prisoner in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan has long suffered from diabetes, hypertension, a prostate problem and a slipped disc. In March 2021, a biopsy of an abdominal wall mass revealed that he has a sarcoma, a malignant tumor, a type of cancer that arises from transformed cells of mesenchymal (connective tissue) origin.  In October 2019, Antonio Molina was illegally arrested, along with six (6) other human rights defenders when they were documenting human rights violations among heavily militarized peasant communities in Palawan. Molina is a member of Katipunan ng Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK), a staunch advocate of farmers’ rights for genuine agrarian reform. He was falsely charged with murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives. 

Why the call for compassionate release?

Terminal illness requires special care and treatment. This is a major concern for political prisoners, who may be unable to access quality healthcare in prison, especially as compared with that available in an outside, institutional setting. These illnesses will require constant medical attention that neither the detention facility nor the government can thoroughly and continuously provide. 

We have provided a Responsive Intercessory Prayer for consideration in your liturgy for this Sunday.  Let us know, if there are other materials or information that you would need.  Please share with us your participation.  We, in turn, will make sure that Ernesto and Antonio know of your prayers and concern.  You may also post your efforts on Facebook and tag the Promotion of Church People’s Response (@church.pcpr).

Thank you for considering this important advocacy and pastoral ministry with political prisoners.  As of June 30, 2021, there are 713 political prisoners throughout the country.  Under the Duterte administration, this number continues to rise through dubious search warrants and fabricated charges.  Please pray for each woman and man, detained for political reasons; most are unable to receive visitors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Let us especially pray for Ernesto and Antonio as their situations are both urgent and dire. Still, every political prisoner is in need of our compassion, advocacy and call for for their freedom!

Compassionate Release of Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr. and Antonio Molina! Free All Political Prisoners!

 In service to God and Filipino people,

A Lamentation

Intercessory Prayer for Compassionate Release  of Ernesto Jude Cantero Rimando, Jr. and Antonio Molina,  Political Prisoners terminally ill and suffering under detention

 Response:  O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

We come before You, our God, whose character of compassion bends Your ear to hear our cries. We love and are loved by a Caring Creator, who stays with us even at the hour of darkness and death.  O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

 Our beloved country is replete with suffering, oozing with death-dealing experiences, and drained of its strength to see light and savor joy.  O God of Compassion hear our cry!

This nation’s leaders have left us to suffer hunger, both of our bodies and our spirits. They have left many in tatters and pieces, as needed public services were sacrificed to their whims and hunger for power.  They have sown fear and terror, injustice, and oppression to advance their greed.  O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

We bring to you as an oblation, an offering: two people person, in need of rescue and intercession. Your church, your spirit, your light on this troubled earth, has seen their suffering and their service.  Ernesto and Antonio, two lives that have given much, so much so that all strength has left their bodies.  Their lives are valued; their relationships revered. O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

 We bring to you 55-year-old Ernesto, a peasant organizer of sugar workers, loved by his people, arbitrarily arrested and detained in the Metro Manila District Jail, Lower Bicutan. Ernesto, now ravaged by complications of liver cirrhosis, lung and blood vessel diseases, needs utmost care.  O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

 We bring to you 66-year-old Antonio, human rights defender.  Detained on the island of Palawan, suffering from blood, prostate and spine problems as well as an aggressive, malignant cancer of the connective tissues.  Antonio, too, needs utmost care.  O God of Compassion, hear our cry!

O God of Life, Ernesto and Antonio have given their lives to serve Your people. We carry their bodies, suffering from terminal illnesses; we carry them in our hearts and bring them to the foot of Jesus’ Cross.  We bring them to You for healing, for reprieve from their daily pain, and we ask You to help us MAKE AN APPEAL to the authorities for their COMPASSIONATE RELEASE. For only in Compassionate Release, will they realize the special care and treatment needed by terminally ill political prisoners. Transform the hearts of the authorities, O God, from hearts of wrath to hearts of love; from “a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.”   
O God of Compassion, hear our cry! 

“No one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without influence on societal and national life, without concern for the soundness of civil institutions, without a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society.” 

  -Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 183

A year onto the May 9, 2022 elections in the Philippines, preparations are underway for hopefuls in the presidential, vice-presidential, congressional (senate and house) and local (regional, provincial, city and municipal) seats. We expect to see more of this after the filing of candidacies this October, with all supposedly championing pro-people issues. But how are we gearing for this exercise as members of the Church?  How do we discern pro-people actions from those merely masquerading as one but furthering their own interests against the common good?  What are our duties as faithful?

The right to suffrage is a constitutionally-guaranteed right. It is a function of democracy which, with people as sovereign and from whom all power emanates, provides for the selection of the country’s leaders through voting.

However, the 2022 elections are set amidst a grim backsliding of democracy, good governance and social justice under President Rodrigo Duterte, and made even worse during the Covid-19 pandemic.

What’s at Stake in the 2022 Elections?

The May elections provide an opportunity for the electorate to hold their leaders accountable and demand that human rights be front and center of any development discourse. A life of dignity, free from strife and oppression should not be a vision but a something we need to actively and collectively work for.

 It is thus imperative to choose leaders of known probity and integrity, and whose track record demonstrate their stance especially for those who have least in life as a result of unjust systems —  the poor, oppressed and marginalized. 

Absence of a Life of Dignity

The economy has sunk at an all-time low never before seen since World War II, and only exacerbated by the pandemic. Majority of our people face unemployment, underemployment, hunger and poverty. In 2020, there were at least 5.8  million unemployed Filipinos, with a 12.7% unemployment rate.(i)   This majority is the  poorest 75% of families without savings who have been in economic distress.(ii)  Meanwhile, neoliberal policies favoring big business, transnational corporations, big banks and their local counterparts continue to dominate. This has resulted in huge public debts (PhP 9.8 T as of end 2020), as well as small businesses and domestic agriculture barely surviving. Poverty is at its worst in rural areas where landless peasants’ plight are exacerbated by corporate landgrabs, climate crisis and conflicts. Four decades of neoliberal globalization have kept the economy backward and pre-industrial. National industrialization has remained a pipedream. The net effect of more and more people living in further misery is not a life of dignity.