Maria Roja Banua
Spokesperson | NDF-Bicol
National Democratic Front of the Philippines
December 10, 2018
The National Democratic Front-Bicol is one with the Filipino people in condemning the fascist and terrorist US-Duterte regime’s systematic attack against the Filipino Church who have stood determined in opposing Duterte’s deadly War on Drugs.
Duterte’s sustained vilification and threat campaign against Filipino bishops and priests are part of an intensifying state crackdown against the clergy with the aim of suppressing its influential support over the rising anti-fascist united front. This clearly is a systematic attack that tries to discredit both progressive and democratic forces who condemns his tyrannical rule. Having such a persuasive institution as the Catholic Church openly criticizing his war on drugs would be detrimental in his desperate attempt to consolidate political power through formally declaring Nationwide Martial Law, massive cheating at next year’s elections, ChaCha for bogus federalism and establishment of fascist dictatorship.
Amidst the country’s worsening politico-economic crisis brought forth by the regime’s rabid neoliberal attacks with rampant killings and gross human rights violations continuing to pile up, the Christian Church continues to be aware of the need to be one with the poor, deprived, oppressed and exploited. They have joined the militant church people in assisting victims of extrajudicial killings, educating people of their rights and standing with them against the regime’s oppression, and offered their institution as sanctuary and refuge to the growing mass movement.
As cases of massacres rise, and second amongst the highest number of politically-motivated Extrajudicial Killings (EJKs), mostly against landless peasants, Bicolano church people are consolidating their ranks and are more ready to integrate with the toiling masses in their struggle for land and justice.
They may seek inspiration from Saint Oscar Romero—anti-fascist and anti-imperialist Archbishop of El Salvador who was gunned down during Mass in a hospital chapel a day after telling the Army that “They are killing our own people.” And that “no soldier is obliged to obey an order that is contrary to the will of God. One must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us. And those who fend off danger will lose their lives.” He was outspoken during his country’s civil war and denounced the United States part in it.
Archbishop Romero is one of the leaders of the liberation theology movement, espousing that religious faith be practiced by addressing poverty and injustice through immersion with the people’s lives and struggles. It stressed both heightened awareness of the socioeconomic structures that caused social inequities and active participation in changing those structures.
In a time where the hegemonic control and dominance of the imperialist US in the Philippines continues to be imposed, poor people being taxed heavily while prices skyrocket and real wage remains low, and social conditions utterly worsening under Duterte’s fascist dictatorship, may the clergy further embrace the progressive and revolutionary principles of Archbishop Romero.
CNL-Bicol calls on all the church people to stand firmly in our vow of servitude with the exploited and the oppressed. We must extend our hand to the deprived majority silenced by the rich minority. In the spirit of Christianity as church of the poor, let us carry forward the armed revolution until victory! Join the New People’s Army!
https://www.philippinerevolution.info/statement/church-people-follow-the-revolutionary-path-of-saint-oscar-romero/
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