Category: Documents

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020

(Approved on November 28, 2019 by the General Convention of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines held at The Lutheran Center, Sta. Mesa, Manila).

Last July 22, 2019, for the second time the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, asked the Congress to reinstate death penalty for “heinous crimes related to illegal drugs and plunder.” This was the first priority legislative measure that the President mentioned in his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress.

The House Committee on Justice discussed 12 bills seeking the re-imposition of capital punishment for heinous crimes, particularly on plunder and drug-related cases. This measure seeks to amend Republic Act 9346, the law that abolished death penalty in the criminal justice system. Supporters of this re-imposition argued that death penalty would dissuade heinous crimes and serve justice to the victims.

However, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) reminded the government, Philippine law makers and the citizens that reintroducing the death penalty “will be a serious breach of international law” – the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1986 and the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR in 2007.

“Keep Us Alive.”

We echo this cry coming from the heart of the Head of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) in an interview by the CNN Philippines responding to President Duterte’s reaction to the call of the medical and health community for timeout. We express sympathy in their dire situation and we call on this government to put their acts together to arrest the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) now at 103,000, surpassing even the source of the virus, the President’s closest ally, China.

 We support the call of our medical workers for a break to reflect and re-chart a full plan and strategy to fight COVID-19. Calling for a more efficient response to manage the pandemic is not an attempt to demean the government, not even close to calling a revolution. It is giving this government another chance to recalibrate their efforts and strategies against the pandemic to be able to contain and manage the increasing number of cases.

For the President to say that he detests to be the last to know of the situation of the health sector is a big lie. To castigate them for airing their sentiment in public is absurd. The medical and health sectors have been writing letters to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III and the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) since February 2020 regarding various issues they are confronted with, but the response is none to minimal or slow. It is as if all their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

We cannot help but to sympathize with our frontliners and be furious at the situation they are forced to confront every day, when all our government leaders do is spew insensitive comments even pointing out how they should perform their work better.

“Our medical system is clearly overwhelmed. Even ordinary citizens can accept this truth, yet the President and his alter-egos are blind and deaf. It is even adding insult to injury when he asked the health sector workers to apply as police and military who receive higher salaries, implying that the health sector’s plea is only about money. We decry this insult to our medical frontliners who risk and offer their lives daily just to save other people’s lives”, Yoly Esguerra, National Coordinator of PMPI said.

“All these are defensive reactions from the government’s failures to effectively respond to the pandemic. As it is, this government does not know how to listen. This government is onion-skinned at criticisms. This government is insensitive to the woes and struggles of its people. It only listens to itself, to the war-mongers in his circle.” Ms. Esguerra added.

“Our President reveals how selfish and short-sighted he is. The way he analyzes things and interprets things are different from those who have expressed tiredness, and burnout due to this pandemic. But more importantly, the President is so sensitive to criticisms, especially to the statement of the health professionals,” Ms. Edel Hernandez, Executive Director of Medical Action Group and member of PMPI NCR-National Cluster.

Choose Life: A Declaration of Opposition to the Death Penalty Signature Campaign :
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13wgma6PRdZ-XqNIr-T9eBI8N-yFw3pYw_slvBe7SACg/edit?fbclid=IwAR1zLnhHgqiThKEKEKJWcbhjFRcG1DUPyZYNWgQAmx_pagM8xbV-o6HYps4

The President has once again raised his call for the passage of a bill that restores the death penalty, having campaigned for it during the 2016 presidential election. We note the support for the reinstitution of capital punishment (death penalty) in the House of Representatives and the Senate, with deep sorrow and regret.

We declare our absolute opposition to capital punishment and we call on all people of good will to join us in our fight. The second century Christian martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, who received a sentence of death from the Roman Empire, once wrote, “The glory of God is a human person fully alive.” At the heart of our Christian faith is the belief that each human person is loved into being by God, created no less in his very image of God (Genesis 1:27), predestined from the beginning to become the image of the Son of God, Jesus Christ himself (Romans 8:29). There is no higher view of humanity than this: that each human person is given the gift of life to share in the image and likeness of God.

An attack on any human person, the image of God, is an attack on God. Moreover, at the core of our proclamation of the Good News (evangelion), the Gospel of Christ is that God’s Son came not to condemn (John 3:17), but to offer redemption, and forgiveness: “The Lord is long suffering towards us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to turn to him.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Rather than take the life of sinners, Christ came to offer his own life for our redemption: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). Such is the depth of the love of God for us, sinners.

NOTHING- neither human sin, nor injustice, nor evil, “nor anything else in creation can separate us from the saving love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 8:39) This is the faith we confess, and we oppose the death penalty because it is contrary to the Christian principles of respect for human life, mercy, forgiveness and charity.

Furthermore, we also oppose the death penalty on the following grounds:

• Capital punishment will disproportionately impact poor communities. The poor do not have adequate resources and recourse for competent legal representation.
• In the Philippines, the death penalty had historically been meted out to some of the most vulnerable, for example, both children and the frail elderly. Given our broken judiciary, this could occur again.
• The very serious flaws in our judicial system could mean that the death penalty would be wrongly imposed on the innocent.
• A death penalty could be used to weaken democracy and silence political opposition, by sentencing human rights activists and political dissidents to death in the name of national security.
• Capital punishment does not act as a deterrent to crime, and serves only the purpose of revenge, contrary to the Gospel ethics of loving one’s enemies. (Matthew 5:44)

Task Force Mapalad
August 2, 2020

Castriciones urged: Install us now! We can only fight the pandemic if you will let us win our fight for land

“We appeal to Secretary Castriciones to stop this injustice now. This is his sworn duty. CARP is pro-poor and pro-peasant, it is not an enabler of greed and impunity. The program is there to strengthen our rights to the land we till, not to further enrich the already rich and embolden them to further oppress us.”

Landowners on paper but still landless in real life, about 100 farmers of Capiz province are appealing to Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones to install them in an agricultural landholding that was supposedly awarded to them 23 years ago via the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“The DAR, Secretary Castriciones’ own agency, the Court of Appeals, and recently, Malacañang, have already removed all the legal hurdles to enable us to take control of the landholding and stop the heirs of our former landowner from blocking agrarian reform,” said farmer-leader Teresita Billonid of the Montecarlo Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organization (Montecarba), a member of national peasant federation Task Force Mapalad.

Billonid is referring to the 198-hectare sugar plantation in the towns of President Roxas and Pilar formerly owned by the late Nemesio Tan.

It was supposedly already distributed by the DAR to Montecarba farmers in 1997 through certificates of land ownership award (CLOA), but up to now, the estate remains under the control of Tan’s administrator Ferdinand L. Bacanto, who is also the village chief of Brgy. Culilang in President Roxas.

Landless title holders

“What is the use of a land title if we still don’t have our land? How did it happen that while it is written in our CLOAs that we own the land, the government has allowed the former landowner to continue controlling it and earning millions of pesos from the property?” said Billonid.

“We appeal to Secretary Castriciones to stop this injustice now. This is his sworn mandate. CARP is pro-poor and pro-peasant, it is not an enabler of greed and impunity. The program is there to strengthen our rights to the land we till, not to further enrich the already rich and embolden them to further oppress us,” she said.

Fifty-nine of the 147 Montecarba farmers have already died. 

Most of them grew old, got sick, and perished waiting to own the land they had tilled for a long time. The 59th CLOA holder was killed two years ago by gunmen being linked to the camp of our former landowner, according to Billonid.

She was referring to Orlando T. Eslana, 49, who was shot dead on February 11, 2017 by perpetrators allegedly linked to Bacanto.  Eslana was killed five days after he joined 68 of his fellow CLOA holders in occupying a portion of the landholding in Pilar town.

At least five men opened fire on the CLOA holders, who had set up fences in the area. Four farmers were also wounded in the incident  ̶  Ana Bocala, Nida Amo, Adel Vergara, and Melinda Eslana Arroyo, the sister of Orlando, who remains paralyzed, with the bullet still stuck in her head.

“Recently, the DAR chief said that CARP beneficiaries as food producers ‘are going to play a key role in winning this war’ against Covid-19. But in our case, Secretary Castriciones must first make us win in our decades-old struggle for land, before we can become among the fighters of the pandemic,” said Billonid.

Pastoral Statement about our Seafarers

   Last Sunday, July 12 was Sea Sunday. Our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis affirms “we are united with all those who work on the sea, especially those who are far from their loved ones and their country.” The heart of our dear Holy Father goes to our seafarers. He cares and is so concern about them. They are not forgotten. Our Church is always with them, praying for their safety and sound health, working for their wellbeing and welfare, interceding for protection and promotion of their rights and dignity.

   On that succeeding days, our dedicated and devoted Stella Maris Chaplain of the Archdiocese of Manila, Father Paolo Prigol, CS informed me “Bishop, there are many cruise ships anchored in the waters of Manila Bay.” You may ask what the reason was as I also inquired “why?” He replied, “while other nations ‘refused’ them for enforcing continued precautionary measures against Coronavirus, our country welcomes and allows foreign cruise ships to dock and remain lying in anchor in our waters. It is because most of their crew and officers are Filipinos.” And that is very true, as it turns out Filipinos to be a third of all cruise ships crews.

   This gracious gesture of our Philippine government and all other officials is truly admirable and laudable. It is a clear and concrete manifestation of what the Filipinos, seafarers and migrant workers are very much known for: their hospitality, honesty and hardworking. Our land and sea based migrant workers have shown resilience, strength and courage amidst difficulty and dangers, storms and separations as they brave the seas and labor on land.

   Now reflecting deeper and taking the old maxim “harbor is your home” we could turn this crisis of Covid19 pandemic as an opportunity to position our country as leading hub of the global maritime industry. As we know, our Filipino seafarers are much sought-after crew for cruise or cargo, passenger ships or tanker and off-shore. Thus, we have the able manpower and resources-our fellow Filipinos who are naturally seafarers. We have a strong and organized maritime industry. Our educational maritime systems and schools are world class. Just to cite an example is the world-renowned Maritime Academy of Asia and Pacific, very much respected and highly esteem school located in Bataan, within my Diocese of Balanga. Geographically, it is advantageous for us since we are a nation of islands with deep harbors. Again, for illustration purposes, we have well-established and very much organized Stella Maris all over our country, especially in the Archdioceses of Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Manila and Lipa; the Dioceses of Balanga, Iba and Talibon.

   Seafarers are very much essential service providers. They are key workers for the growth of economy and for the transit of material goods, medical supplies and mineral elements. With their services and expertise whether in cargo or tankers hips, commodities and goods move around swiftly and safely around the globe. With their sacrifices and exemplary works our whether cruise or passenger ships our travels are memorable and pleasing.

   But with this unprecedented Covid19 pandemic everything and everyone momentarily stops. All are affected. All suffered, especially our seafarers who because of national travel restrictions are not allow to join or to leave ships and to transit to different international territories. Or even with their travel histories become collateral suspects of Coronavirus carrier. Now is the most opportune time to show our gratitude and appreciation for their sacrifices and service by reaching out to them, by our compassion, and by our material and spiritual support.    

   Time will come when our seafarers will continue to sail. All hands will be on deck. With God’s unending mercy and with His mighty power will surpass and survive this dangerous and deadly Coronavirus. All will be saved. We will experience a smooth sailing on our life journey. With the maternal guidance and mediation of our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Star of the seas, help and healing will descend upon us.

   This worrisome Covid19 pandemic temporary abruptly brought our ships to lower our sails for general public safety and for universal common good. as anchored on deep waters or docked at ports, liken to the medieval Venetian customary preventive measures, let us take this quaranta as challenge to posit and prime our country as one of the leadings global maritime hubs; and as reassurance for our seafarers to make them stay safe, stay strong and to stay sound as they wait and eventually be welcomed aboard.

   Together, as one, let us raise our sail. Let us rise up for our country. 

+Ruperto Cruz Santos, DD
Bishop of Balanga and
CBCP Bishop-Promoter of the Apostleship of the Seas Philippines
Memorial of our Lady of Mount Carmel, 2020