Religious group decries communist tag

CHURCH leaders and members of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI), Diocese of Cagayan de Oro, have strongly denounced the vilification of the IFI and its clergy, tagging them as terrorists and supporters of the communist New People's Army (NPA).

This after the concrete fence of the IFI Cathedral in Pabayo-Pacana streets in Cagayan de Oro City was covered with spray paint claiming that the clergy of IFI are terrorists and NPA supporters last January 24.

Bishop Felixberto Calang of the IFI said "these acts of labelling the IFI and its clergy as terrorists and sheltering of NPAs are part of well-planned and deliberate efforts to malign and discredit our ministry and meant to intimidate us into silence from our advocacies for peace and social justice."

"The people behind this vandalism are the true terrorists because they sow terror by harassing those who work for peace. The IFI will never falter with these intents but will continue our ministry in solidarity with those who struggled for justice and truth," Calang said.

The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) in Northern Mindanao also condemned the recent attack against the militant church.

In a statement, the MAT-Northern Mindanao said the attack is filled with stench of malignancy and deceit to derail the church from its progressive and pro-people stance.

"The IFI and United Church of Christ in the Philippines have been subjected to vilifications through highway spray paints in Zamboanga and Ozamis, bearing the messages 'IFI-NPA, UCCP-NPA.' All of these patterns, points to putting the institution and the lives of its members under peril. Such method sets the atmosphere that justifies tragedy that may befall on them for being so-called "terrorists," the group said.

"The church would never support terrorists. It has always been a stance for religious groups for peace talks to resume which Duterte and the mercenary AFP spoils time and time again," they added.

The group is calling on religious gathering to join against a tyrant who declines tune in to the clamour of the people for genuine, just and lasting peace.

"It is of no surprise that institutions such as the church that champions reforms favoring the basic sectors is antagonized by its polar opposite anti-people, fascist-tyrannical administration of Duterte," MAT-Northern Mindanao said.

"It is our fight for the safety of all Filipino families and for their right to live in a peaceful society. It is high time that we all come to demonstrate the undaunting faith that has always been of the poor and for the poor," the group added.

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