CBCP deplores state of ‘unpeace’ in country

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday expressed concern over the rise in violence in the country, labeling the current situation as that of “unpeace” that is not only “distressing but disturbing, and even tragic.”

In a pastoral statement issued after the close of its 99th plenary assembly, outgoing CBCP president, Jaro, Leyte Archbishop Angel Lagdameo lamented the prevailing “culture of violence” in the country, saying that “death seems to have taken over our society.”

Lagdameo said the series of bombings in Mindanao have become alarming with over 50 such attacks occurring there since last year, claiming the lives of several innocent civilians.

“In the past year, more than 50 bombings in Central and Southern Mindanao have caused senseless deaths and created insecurity, if not terror,” he said.

Last week, bombings took place in Mindanao, specifically in Jolo, the capital of Sulu island province, Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, Iligan City, the capital of Lanao del Norte province, and Cotabato City, where 11 persons were killed and score of others wounded.

Lagdameo also deplored a notable increase in the incidents of ambush, kidnapping and extortion which, he said seems to have no end in sight.

He also raised concern over the rise in the number of cases of unexplained killings and disappearances of journalists, labor, peasant and political leaders, only a few of whose perpetrators have been brought before the bar of justice.

On top of these major worries, he also cited the unabated commission of petty crimes by some unscrupulous people.

“While we train our sight toward the 2010 elections, we cannot close our eyes to the lingering problem of human rights abuses. The participation of the laity is particularly urgent in the area of pro-active peace making,” Lagdameo said.

The bishop moreover decried the harassment being done by some people in power who file “baseless court cases” especially against the poor, while the guilty walk away scot-free.

“Deeply saddened and bothered by this deplorable situation, we cannot remain silent. The sanctity of life in all circumstances must be defended,” he further said in the statement.

With this troubling status of the country, the CBCP, through Lagdameo, called on the government to seriously heed the recommendations made by investigative bodies and not to dismiss them as mere propaganda.

The Catholic Church has been pro-active in the search for justice in cases of extra-judicial killings in the country. As proof of this, Butuan City Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos was selected to be a member of the Melo Commission that was formed by the government and tasked to investigate the string of murders of journalists, labor leaders and critics of the Arroyo administration.

In its findings, the Commission declared that the majority of the killings were committed by the military.

United Nations Rapporteur Philip Alston, who conducted a separate investigation into the extra-judicial killings in the country in 2007, also reported that most of the murders of journalists and the disappearances of activists in the country were perpetrated by the state’s security forces.

Lagdameo scored the government for being allegedly slow in acting on such cases.

“The government has the primary responsibility to bring to justice the perpetrators of human rights abuses from whichever sector of society they came from,” he stressed.

The CBCP at the same time urged the government, the Islamic secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines to return to the negotiating table to allow for lasting peace to be attained in the country and to put a stop to the violence between them, and the death and displacement of innocent people.

The Catholic bishops organization also pushed for the creation of groups to be composed of representatives from various sectors that will train its sights against human rights abuses.

“We strongly recommend the establishment of multi-sectoral groups at various levels to monitor the implementation of laws as well as the prevention of criminality, graft and human rights abuses.

“We ask all citizens not to take violence, killings and abuses in our society as something normal and no longer manifest indignation over abuses of the basic rights of fellow human beings,” Lagdameo said. –Marie A. Surbano, Daily Tribune