Bishop Alberto B. Ramiento, PIC, One of the Strongest Ecumenical Voices in the Philippines Against Extra-Judicial Killings
(2nd of two parts)
(2nd of two parts)
Bishop Ramiento was the 29 unsolved murders and killing of church leaders, both Catholics and Protestants. These clergies in the exercise of their prophetic role were critical of government policies - mining, globalization, human rights violations and the re-entry of US military in the country thru the Visiting Forces Agreement. The VFA was seen by many Filipinos as a one-sided military agreement detrimental to Philippine interests.
Bishop Ramiento was born on August 9, 1936 in Guimba, Nueva Ecija. He took his Bachelor of Theology at SATS in 1958, his Masters of Divinity in 1990 and his Doctor of Divinity at General Theological Seminary in New York. He was happily married to Celerina Mendoza with whom he has 4 children.
He was a man of peace. A gentle pastor but a fiery prophet. In his search for peace to end the 36 years of war between the government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), whose members include the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army, Bishop Ramiento joined “Pilgrims for Peace” a multi-sectoral network of advocates calling for resumption of the Peace Talks between the two warring forces and pursue the struggle on the negotiating table.
The slaying of Bishop Ramiento, Maximo Obispo of the PIC in 1993-1999, right in his room while sleeping, show that the killer has no respect for life and the sanctity of homes and the churches. If the bishop can be killed this way, ordinary priests, pastors and church leaders who are poor, but serve the prophetic role to speak against the evils of society are more vulnerable.
The Statement of the Philippine Independent Church on October 4, 2006, on his brutal slaying said: “ The people behind his death think they have silenced him and maimed the prophectic voice of the church. They are mistaken. His death has become like a candle in a burning incense, sparking more fire enflaming the hearts of the clergy and faithful of the IFI to remain faithful to her pro-people and pro-labor heritage. We grieve his death, but we celebrate his life”.
The brutal killing of Bishop Ramiento reverberated across the country. In Manila, rallies were held to denounce his murder. Some rallies were held in Iloilo City and other cities in the country.
In Bacolod City, the Negros Regional Ecumenical Council (NREC) in a statement , condemned his killing and called on the government, for a “ thorough and independent investigation of his horrific killing and pray that his death may not full into another growing statistics of unsolved estra-judicial killings ravaging our nation.” Elsewhere in the country, ecumenical groups of Protestants and Catholic leaders demanded on the government to make impartial investigations of the murder. They believed he was silenced by the enemies of freedom and justice.
The statement of the PIC, signed by the Maximo Obispo Most Rev, Godofredo J.David said: “We believe the brutal killing was the inevitable consequence of his principled engagement with the people and their struggle for the fullness of life.”
The Iglesia Filipina Indendiente (IFI) is a nationalist church with a clear visi=on of Christian life, based on nationalism. It uses the strategy of protest and activism as part of its church life –evangelization and mission. During the Philippine –American War from 1998 – 1905, when the singing of the Philippine National Anthem was forbidden by US Colonial authorities, the anthem was sung as part of the masses by IFI congregations. When keeping a Philippine Flag was forbidden and a crime punishable with imprisonment, the IFI sued he flag’s color of white, red and blue, as part of the vestments the priests wore during masses. This was their silent protests. Even when they cannot speak, IFI people did not vow to the American colonial power.
Bishop Ramiento grow under the faith that loves freedom, justice and life. He was not an ordinary bishop. His dioceses were not confined to the IFI churches. In Tarlac he was called the
“Bishop of the poor peasants and workers.” The whole province and different sectors were his dioceses. He was the bishop of the people - ”…a well loved pastor, a social prophet and an icon in the nationalist struggle of the Filipino masses with his uncompromising stand for national sovereignty and patrimony. He was a true advocate for a just peace.:=”
“Bishop of the poor peasants and workers.” The whole province and different sectors were his dioceses. He was the bishop of the people - ”…a well loved pastor, a social prophet and an icon in the nationalist struggle of the Filipino masses with his uncompromising stand for national sovereignty and patrimony. He was a true advocate for a just peace.:=”
His altar is not inside the church building only. It is wherever the people’s struggle for life, better wages, good working conditions and human rights are. He was seen often in people’s rallies and stood with workers in their picket lines. He helped mobilize support for the cause of workers on strike for better wages and living conditions.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was not spared from the fiery criticism of Bishop Ramiento. He has questioned the legitimacy of her presidency and called on her to step down from office. In the last pastoral letter he signed as Chairman of the Supreme Council of Bishops, he called on the church faithful to “confront the darkness that is engulfing the very soul of the nation and continue to thread the path towards the establishment of a just soeicty under a government that genuinely serves the interests and welfare of the Filipinos. “
In Malacanang, the government felt the tremor of the bishop’s killing. Presidential spokesmam Ignacio Bunye said: “ Let us no prematurely judge this incidents.” And it was unfortunate that the national rallies of IFI people and sectoral groups demanding for investigation of his death was looked by National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales as moves to “destabilize the government”.
From Geneva, Switzerland, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches in a statement made in October 10,2006, said: “Bishop Ramiento was a soft spoken kind of person and a church leader who led a simple life. He was committed to the poor and marginalized of his diocess in the rural area. Being close to his people he was aware and understood their sufferings, trials and tribulations. Many a times he come to their rescue when they were victimized and harassed by the security forces. The position he took in defence of his congregation was not appreciated by those in power. He was frequently warned to change his way He was subjected to death threat.”
The World Council of Churches, called on the government of the Philippines to stop these “wanton acts of killings and destruction carried out with complete immunity by the officials of the army and para-military forces sometimes with the implicit support of the government”.
Last January 2007, the Melo Commission, organized by President Arroyo and chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo to investigate the growing unsolved killings released its findings. It put the blame of extrajudicial killings of militants on top military commanders in the area by virtue of command responsibility. It linked Maj. General Jovito Palparan to the extra-judicial that increased in every province he was formerly assigned.
After reading the report of the Melo Commssion that blamed the killings on the military and to stir the negative impact away from her as President and Commander-in –Chief of the Armed Forces, President Arroyo called on the international communities to help in the investigations. The United Nations accepted the request. The UN sent representative to help in the investigation. In a press conference after 10 days of interviews, Philip Alton, UN Commission on Human Rights Special Rapporteur said, the military is behind the killings, despite their “almost total denial.” Mr. Alton said the number of death was “distressingly high.” Human Rights group Karapatan said more than 800 peasants leaders, right advocates and militants have been killed since President Arroyo assumed the presidency in 2001.
The United Nations thru Ambassador Kristie Kenney called for an end to human rights violations and summary executions of unarmed activists. But many people do not put much hope in the United States words and promises. Many human rights violators in the Philippines were trained in the US military schools or were military scholars in the United States.
The brutal killing of Bishop Alberto Ramiento helped much in bringing extra-judicial killings to the international scene. In death, the Bishop’s voice became stronger and more powerful.
We celebrate the life and death of Bishop Alberto Ramiento, a martyr for peace . He did not die in vain. In death he gave courage to the people to continue their struggle for peace in the country and the world.
(2nd of 2 parts)
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