Statement from the National Council of Churches in the Philippines on the killing of Rev. Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, PIME
24/10/2011 2:07:53 PM
“And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” (Luke 9:39-40)
The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) joins the Manobos in Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, Mindanao in mourning following the brutal assassination of Rev. Fr. Fausto Tentorio yesterday in the hands of motorcycle-riding men. The NCCP adds its voice to the outrage and condemnation at this latest assault on church workers. In September 5, 2011, Mr. Rabenio Sungit, a layleader of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines was gunned down in Quezon, Palawan. Both of them chose the vocation to serve and speak for indigenous peoples.
The killing of Fr. Tentorio took place at a time we are observing indigenous people’s week, a time to learn and appropriate for ourselves indigenous peoples’ values for the care of the earth.
The ministry of Fr. Tentorio is known in the ecumenical circles. His ministry with the Manobos was intended to bring out the best in them. His ministry offered an alternative to the economic and social neglect of the Manobos, long denied the basic services of education and economic livelihood. He taught the Lumads to live out their human rights and claim for themselves the right to live with dignity. His prophetic witness exposed the deliberate attempts of those in power to maintain the marginalization of the indigenous peoples. It is not unknown that Fr. Tentorio spoke against military presence in the villages of these indigenous people. He spoke loudly that the state’s security force has become the tool for the people’s insecurity.
His assassination, the continuing assault on church people and the impunity are death knells to the spiritual soul of this country. As church people are harassed and killed, we are deeply concerned that we are not learning the values of preserving our national resources and sense of community as a country, long treasured by the indigenous peoples. Instead, our leaders have succumbed to the intent of trading our resources for a “pair of shoes” and people who speak the truth about being responsible to the future must be eliminated. This is the spirit of Oplan Bayanihan, the state policy designed to silence all principled dissent. It is a despicable policy that continues to target un-armed civilians like Fr. Tentorio, Mr. Sungit and many more. It is a policy that begets further violence. As we join the demand for justice for Fr. Tentorio, we affirm our call to an end to impunity.
“Comfort, comfort my people,” declares the prophet Isaiah, “for every valley shall be lifted up”. In the death of Fr. Tentorio, a martyr is born. He has left a sign directing especially the Lumads in Mindanao to just and lasting peace. Let us not be faint in continuing the shout that “justice roll down like a river.” We are not alone in this prayer and work. Around the world, people are now demanding an end to the oppression the greedy have imposed upon us.
