As incumbent Bishops of UCCP, we deplore in the strongest possible terms all these acts of harassment committed against our church people and against peace advocates and human rights defenders. In keeping with the call of His Excellency President Rodrigo R. Duterte for change, all these abhorrent acts of persecution MUST STOP NOW!
Category: Pastoral Statements
On The Haran Fire
Shortly after 2 o’clock in the very early morning of Wednesday, 24 February 2016, fire broke out at the Haran Mission Center of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Davao City. Media footage of the incident shows that the fire started in the evacuation camp of the Lumads followed in a minute in the two dormitories of the Mission Center. After the fire was put out, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) investigators found two gallon-sized containers that smelled of gasoline and a 1.5-liter plastic bottle still filled with gasoline near the site of the fire. Five people were injured in the fire and two buildings were destroyed. The initial BFP investigation rules arson.
On The Forcible Entry of the PNP at UCCP Haran
In the early morning of June 23, 2015, PNP elements in full riot gear, along with a paramilitary group named ALAMARA and with fire trucks and military vehicles began massing outside the UCCP Haran Mission House. They were lead by a certain Col. Marvin Pepino. Without presenting any warrant or court order even when asked point blank about it, they forcibly entered the Church premises by destroying the gate. This happened as Church officials were facilitating a dialogue between the datus and the representatives from the DSWD and the NCIP.