The barrel of the gun. Aglipayan Bishop Alberto Ramento delivering the homily during the necrological services for slain IFI priest, Fr. William Tadena on 29 March 2005.

Tarlac City -- Obispo Maximo IX Alberto Ramento of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) was found dead due to stab wounds on 03 October 2006 at around 7:00 in the morning inside his quarters at the Aglipayan San Sebastian Cathedral along Espinosa St. this city.

A spot report obtained by GLNS showed local police has already concluded the incident as "robbery with homicide" but militant groups believe otherwise.

The Tarlac City police based their conclusion mainly on the sworn affidavit of Archimedes C. Ferrer who found the bishop's lifeless body sprawled on the living room, at around 7:00 in the morning of October 3.

Ferrer, 48 years old, is Bishop Ramento’s stay-in staff who lives in a house at the other end of the church. The Bishop's quarters on the other hand is located at the church's mezzanine.

Based on the initial police report, Bishop Ramento sustained at least eight stab wounds, three on the chest, another three on the back, another one on his side and a deep slash on the neck.

Some of the items reportedly missing are the bishop’s wallet and his ceremonial crucifix.

Ferrer further admitted in his sworn statement that the Bishop's quarters has already been robbed twice since the past month.

Political killing

Activist organization BAYAN Central Luzon however strongly believes Bishop Ramento's death is another "political killing" committed by the regime’s hatchet men.

“(T)his dastardly act... we attribute to (the) government security forces!” BAYAN Central Luzon Chairperson Roman Polintan declared on an interview with GLNS.

“Our fear that it is another extra-judicial killing is based on the fact that Bishop Ramento is a staunch defender of peoples’ rights and welfare. It is the Arroyo regime who stands to gain from this killing!” Polintan further averred.

Vigil. Aglipayan priests during a memorial service for slain Bishop Alberto Ramento.

Last seen

In his sworn statement Ferrer said he last saw the Bishop at around 8:30 PM the night before.

Bishop Ramento headed a whole day - meeting of Aglipayan clergy at the Cathedral on October 2.

After the meeting, Monsignor Perlino Dugay of the Mayantoc IFI parish recounted noticing a pair of motorcycled men seemingly observing the cathedral premises and reported the incident to the Bishop.

Human rights advocate

Bishop Ramento served as the chairperson of the IFI Supreme Council of Bishops and heads the Diocese of Tarlac and Laoag in the Ilocos Region.

A staunch advocate of human rights and peace based on justice, he headed the Promotion of Church Peoples’ Response in Central Luzon and KARAPATAN -Tarlac, served as Board member of the Philippine Peace Center and is Co-chairperson of the Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum.

Bishop Ramento was also a convenor of the following aggrupations - Pilgrims for Peace, Movement of Citizens and Peace Forum, Interfaith Central Luzon and the Church-Peasant Conference.

He has been a tireless supporter of the workers and peasants of the Hacienda Luisita who went on strike in late 2004.