As Bishops of the Church, we condemn the accusation hurled on Rev. Dan San Andres Sr. and Jenelyn Nagrampa, who were both allegedly accomplices of the ambush that happened on May 13, 2018, and resulted to the killings of two members of Philippine Army. This accusation are pure lies and fabrication. Rev. Dan San Andres Sr. and Jenelyn Nagrampa were issued a subpoena last October 2019. Through their lawyers and witnesses, these allegations were answered and refuted in December 2019.
Category: Pastoral Statements
A MOCKERY AGAINST FREEDOM AND SOVEREIGNTY
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) strongly condemns the recent red-tagging of the UCCP and other religious groups and institutions by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) posted on their official social media account on facebook. Such tagging is a rehash of an old, hoary tactic used by the military to silence government critics and to suppress the people from expressing their reasonable concerns. It is a reckless act meant obviously to discredit the image of legitimate institutions like the Church which commits itself to work with the people in the noble cause of peace advocacy and human rights protection.
FREE THE PRISONERS AT THIS TIME OF GREAT HEALTH PERIL
The United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) joins in the broadening appeal to the leaders of the Philippine government to make a timely, just, and compassionate action to free the elderly, sick and most vulnerable prisoners amidst the continuing threat of covid-19. We express utmost concern that the COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to the thousands of prisoners held in various detention facilities in the Philippines which are mostly overcrowded and congested. We strongly support the families, lawyers and rights advocates in working towards sending the prisoners home from their high-risk prison cells. We also make an urgent plea to the Philippine government for the release of political prisoners, especially those suffering from enervating ailments and the elderly. Failure of the government to address these urgent appeals would result in further disastrous public health emergency and will add to the shattering loss of countless lives to this pandemic. The rights and welfare of detainees must be upheld and sustained especially as we now face this terrifying medical disaster.