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Saturday, April 09, 2005
Local church hits slays of own priests
By Stephen Capillas
* Church slams inclusion in 'enemies list'
* IFI says they advocate change, peace process
THE local chapter of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) Friday voiced its condemnation over the killings of its own priests throughout the country as well as its reported inclusion in the "enemies of state" list by the military.
During a press conference held at the IFI church here in Cagayan de Oro IFI deputy advocacy officer Reverend Redeemer Yañez recounted the murder of IFI priest Father William Tadena who was gunned down by still unidentified assailants after serving mass at his area last March 13.
Tadena is said to have been closely participating in the land dispute involving farmers of Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.
In its press statement the IFI chapter here said there were allegations that the military is tied to the killing.
The IFI local chapter covers the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin. IFI Bishop Felixberto Calang reiterated that Tadena's death, as well as other IFI priests, is intended to silence them and stop them from their ministry of protecting the poor and oppressed.
Bishop Calang also took exception to their reported inclusion in the "enemies of the state" list by the military that is contained in a video compact disc (VCD) disclosed to media.
He said the IFI's 36 years of existence had been marked with a history of fighting for the rights of the poor and that they adhere to the belief that the church simply cannot turn its back to its responsibilities for the Filipino people.
"We are not enemies of the state, we are advocates of change...we are condemning our being listed as enemies of the state. This move is part of the culture of impunity in which killings go unresolved and the critical media and the church are being silenced," Calang said in Visayan.
The IFI local bishop said while there are incidents of priests taking up arms, their church doesn't advocate this stance. "We're not promoting the use of arms as a means to solve conflicts, we are even promoting the peace process," he added.
For his part IFI Advocacy Officer Fr. Antonio Ablon said while the IFI church doesn't advocate the use of arms, there are instances in which individual priests can choose to do so of their own accord.
"We are advocates of change...kritikal ta sa dili makatarungang polisiya sa gobierno (We are critical of unjust policies of the government," Fr. Calang said.
The IFI held a mass prior to joining a multi-sectoral rally that ended up at Divisoria last Thursday night.
(April 9, 2005 issue)
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