Church leaders, lawyers meet on peace and human rights
About 50 church leaders and lawyers assembled at a conference Saturday in Urdaneta City to draw up a campaign and action plan in response to what they deem as a deteriorating human rights and peace situation in the country, with special focus on Central Luzon.
The output from the conference, dubbed as Church and Lawyers Peacemakers Conference (CLPC), is particularly aimed at helping the poor who are victims of basic human rights violations, according to Sr. Cecille C. Ruiz, co-convenor of the CLPC.
“It is very disappointing, infuriating even, that the human rights situation of our country continues to deteriorate in spite of several pronouncements made by the government to address the unabated violations of the right to life, liberty and security,” Ruiz said.
The group believes that Central Luzon has particularly suffered from the government’s Oplan Bantay Laya (Operation Freedom Watch).
Meanwhile, lawyer Emilio Bernas, CLCP co-convenor, said, “The people of Central Luzon have not been spared from being victims of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, harassment, torture, threats, illegal arrests, detention, and other forms of human rights violations.”
Bernas added that their campaign and action plan will serve as an “active defense, protection and promotion of comprehensive human rights.
In Pangasinan, there are several unresolved killings involving lawyers and judges.
Held at the Pastoral Center of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, the convenors of the CLPC include Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, Bishop Jacinto A. Jose from the Archdiocese of Urdaneta, District Superintended Henry Roque of the United Methodist Church Northeast District in Pangasinan, Rev. Eleuterio Revollido of the Aglipayan Central Theological Seminary in Urdaneta, and Rev. Bernardo Tenesa of the Divine Word Seminary in Urdaneta. #
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
