RTC Dismisses Army Charges Against UCCP Pastor

photo credits from UCCP-NLJA

RTC Dismisses Army Charges Against UCCP Pastor

By Kimberlie Ngabit-Quitasol
www.nordis.net

CANDON CITY — The Branch 71 of the Regional Trial Court of Candon City, Ilocos Sur ordered the return of P840,000 bail bond after the cases of frustrated and attempted murder filed against a retired pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) were dismissed in a decision signed on August 25.

It can be recalled that Philippine Army soldiers filed three counts of frustrated murder and two counts of attempted murder against Francisco Bonuan, Jr., 61 and a retired pastor of UCCP for allegedly taking part in the raid of the 81st IB camp in Bugbuga, Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur in November 10, 2014.

Judge Policarpio Martinez of RTC Branch 71 in his August 26 order said “Wherefore, his bailbonds under Original Receipts Nos. 4516829B; 4516830B; 451683B; 451682B; and 4516833B are hereby ordered released, there being no charges and thereon as may be shown by the facts of record.”

The order also pointed out that according to Section 22 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, “the bail shall be deemed automatically canceled upon acquittal of the accused, dismissal of the case, or execution of the judgment of conviction.”

This was not the first time Bonuan was falsely charged by the government soldiers. In 2000, Bonuan and several others were charged with murder for the killing of Fr. Conrado Balweg, the leader of the Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA). The courts acquitted Bonuan from this murder charge.

“Indeed, the Lord is not sleeping. He did not allow deceit and lies to win over the Truth. He has not forsaken His humble servant,” Bonuan said in a press conference on September 3.

Bonuan said that the false charges leveled against him is part of the systematic attack against people who are critical of the government’s anti-people policies and programs. He said the army soldiers filing criminal charges against pastors, priests and other individuals who are vocal in criticizing government programs and projects that do not benefit the people is part of the present administration’s anti-insurgency campaign called Oplan Bayanihan.

“Filing of trumped up charges against critics of the government is part of Oplan Bayanihan’s program to silence critics from exposing the evils of government programs and policies that favor the interests of big foreign companies and that protects the political and economic interests of the US,” he said.

Ilocos Human Rights Alliance (IHRA) Chair Fr. Saranay Respicio of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) condemned the filing of fabricated charges agianst Bonuan saying that attacks against church workers and lay leaders from different denominations who are open critics of “the evil doings of the present regime” has become a trend.

Respicio himself and Rev. Marcelino Mariano of the UCCP were harassed by Sta. Cruz Vice Mayor Virgillio Valle for their opposition to the establishment of the 81st IB headquarters in Barangay Bugbuga.

Rev. Joseph Agpaoa, the current program coordinator of the North Luzon Jurisdiction (NLJ) of the UCCP was tailed by suspected military agents while he was traveling from Solano, Nueva Vizcaya to Villasis, Pangasinan. IHRA documentation showed that the military agents told Agpaoa to be careful with his organization because it is a front of the New People’s Army. He was also asked to talk to an unidentified person but he refused.

Rev. Noel Pagdilao of the UCCP was harassed by the Ilocos Norte provincial government last year for being a signatory in the letter for the peace assembly in September 21, 2014.

Respicio said these attacks against church leaders and workers serve as a testament to the government’s operational plans directed against the people.

He said that the pattern of attack has been observed since the 1990s where many church leaders and workers became victims of harassment, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture and surveillance.

Amid these attacks, Respicio called on church leaders and workers to continue defending the people. “We call on the people of God to speak up for the people who cannot speak for themselves; protect those who are helpless… protect the rights of the poor and needy,” he stressed.

UCCP Bishop Elorde Sambat said this is a critical time for the church as pastors and church workers were not exempt from human rights violations. But he said church leaders and workers should keep the faith and continue serving the people.

“My dear brothers and sisters in this critical time, as faithful servants of God, let us continue following His righteous path,” Sambat reiterated.

Sambat said that the UCCP upholds the fundamental values of love, justice, truth and compassion.

“Defending human rights and dignity is an expression of our faith and has nothing to do with politics or any ideology,” he stressed.

Agpaoa said it would be easier for church leaders and workers to turn a blind eye and keep quiet about the issues that besets the people but it would mean turning away from their covenant with the Lord.

“We made a pact with the Lord, to follow him, to live the life of Christ who gave up his life for us that is why we should not stop serving God’s people,” he said. # nordis.net