04 October 2006

Reference:
Sr. Cecile Ruiz, Coordinator
Tel. No. 0917-824-9537

Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop Alberto B. Ramento, D.D., 70, died of multiple stab wounds as he rested in his chapel in Tarlac City at dawn of October 3, 2006. Initial police investigations show he was a victim of robbery and homicide.

But the circumstances surrounding his senseless and brutal killing lead us to believe that the well-loved and respected bishop is but the latest victim of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's regime of terror.

Bishop Ramento is a staunch defender of people's rights and welfare. As the diocesan bishop of Tarlac, he vigorously supported the workers of Hacienda Luisita since the strike in November 2004 up to the time of his death. He received numerous death threats, along with the late Fr. William Tadena and other IFI clergy from Tarlac for their unflinching support for the poor and the powerless.

Bishop Ramento is an open and strong critic of the Arroyo administration. He led in the condemnation of the continuing spate of extra-judicial killings, disappearances and other grave human rights violations that have characterized the Arroyo government. He strongly opposed the plan to amend the constitution and have issued pastoral letters and signed appeals and petitions against charter change.

Not the least, he was in the forefront of the popular movement demanding the ouster of the Arroyo regime. Only a government that is illegitimate, corrupt and totally disregards the basic rights of the people can benefit from the death of Bishop Ramento.

Even the immediate circumstances that led to the death of the beloved bishop point to something more than a common crime. A motorcycle-riding man was seen casing the chapel the day before he was attacked. The IFI is known to be a church of the poor and the small chapel in Tarlac City boasts of no wealth or ostentation. The bishop himself has lived an austere life and had no riches to attract thieves.

Yet, in the month of September alone, two robberies occurred at the chapel right in the living quarters of Bishop Ramento. On the third and final time last October 2, the perpetrators killed the bishop.

We fear that the death squads of the regime, like chameleons, have changed their mode of attack after they have been vilified and denounced in public and are now masquerading as robbers and common criminals.

We fear that Malacanang's Cabinet oversight committee on internal security composed of Norberto Gonzales, Raul Gonzales, Eduardo Ermita along with others, is hell-bent on continuing the policy of extra-judicial executions to eliminate civilians and leaders of the people they brand as "enemies of state."

Bishop Ramento was the Obispo Maxima IX [Supreme Bishop or the highest ranking IFI clergy in the entire country] from 1993 to 1999. He served as the diocesan bishop of Cavite from the 1980s to 1993. He was also a former chairman of the National Council Churches of the Philippines.

At the time of his death he was the chairman of the Supreme Council of Bishops, co-chairperson of the Ecumenical Bishop's Forum and the diocesan bishop of Tarlac.

Recognized as a staunch peace advocate, Bishop Ramento was appointed by both the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front as a member of the Third Party repository in the peace talks.