05 October 2006

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

Bishop Alberto B. Ramento, the latest victim of the US-Arroyo regime's unabated attack against unarmed civilians, church leaders and progressive individuals and organizations was in the military's order-of-battle since the Hacienda Luisita strike to the time of his death.

He was among at least five church leaders of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente who received death threats and were constantly under surveillance and harassed by military and police agents.

Fr. William Tadena, one of the five church leaders was killed on March 3, 2005. Since then, surveillance and harassments on Bishop Ramento have intensified until he was murdered at dawn on October 3, 2006.

We make this declaration to assert that the US-Arroyo regime is accountable for the death of Bishop Ramento in spite of police claims that he was a victim of plain robbery and homicide.

In fact, on the day before he died, he told a church gathering that his most fervent wish is for the surveillance and harassments to stop, yet encouraged his fellow clergy to be more vigilant and continue working for the welfare of the poor and powerless.

All of the church leaders of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente who were subjected to surveillance and intimidation are supporters of the workers of Hacienda Luisita, and the Filipino peasantry in general, and have spoken against grave human rights violations under the US-Arroyo regime.

Like, Bishop Ramento, the church leaders have received text messages conveying direct threats on their lives. We believe that the death threats are real, as proven by the murders of Fr. Tadena and Bishop Ramento and were issued by military and police agents.

We believe that the relentless attacks against unarmed civilians and leaders of the people are a result of the Oplan Bantay Laya, a counter-insurgency campaign being implemented by the GMA administration and funded by the US government.

We call on the Filipino people to be more vigilant and resist the fascist attacks of the US-Arroyo regime on our basic rights. We demand justice for the death of Bishop Ramento and all victims of human rights violations.

Lastly, we assert that only the ouster of the US-Arroyo regime can stop this wave of killings and pave the way for genuine justice for all the victims.