Statement of the World Council of Churches on Morong-43

Letter on the abduction of church and health workers in the Philippines

To:
President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Office of the President
The Philippines

Geneva, 11 February 2010

Your Excellency,

It is with deep concern that the World Council of Churches (WCC) received a report of the arrest of Dr Alex Montes, a church worker for the United Churches of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and official of the Community Medicine Development Foundation as well as 42 other health workers by the Philippines Army and the Philippine National Police.

I am distressed by the reported news that the detainees have been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment amounting to torture and that they have been deprived of their basic human rights while in custody. Dr Alex Montes, a committed church worker has been a long-time staff of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, which is a member of the WCC world-wide fellowship of churches. The WCC has a strong association with the UCCP and its leadership and in that capacity I am familiar with the activities of the church. Dr Montes who served as the coordinator of the Health Mission of the Christian Witness and Service programme of the UCCP was instrumental in developing community-based health programmes of the UCCP Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City. It is therefore more than unfortunate that Dr Alex Montes’ and his coworkers were arrested and detained while they were involved in legitimate activities of humanitarian services as part of their Christian witness.

In these circumstances, Your Excellency, the WCC calls for the respect of the human rights of Dr Alex Montes and the 42 other detained health workers, including their rights to legal counsel, access to visitors, and due process, as guaranteed by the Philippines Constitution and international human rights Instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory. I urge the authorities to ensure the immediate release of Dr Montes and his co-workers.

Yours faithfully,

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
General secretary
World Council of Churches

cc:
Atty. Agnes Devanadera, Secretary, Department of Justice
HE Norberto Gonzales, Secretary, Department of National Defense
Atty. Leila De Lima, Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua, General Secretary, UCCP
Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process

Statement of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP)

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES
February 9, 2010

PRESS STATEMENT

Free the 43 Health Workers

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines expresses extreme alarm over the arrest and continued detention of forty three health workers who participated in a training conducted by a non-government organization, the Council for Health and Development. Reports say they were arrested in Morong, Rizal on February 6 in the residence of Dr. Melicia Velmonte.?Since their arrest, they have been denied visits of relatives and friends. It was only through the intervention this morning of Commissioner Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights that some of the relatives were able to see their loved ones. Reports said that the detainees were tortured. The detained health workers include Dr. Alexis Montes, a member and former national health program coordinator of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. Dr. Montes was a member of the NCCP’s Commission on Faith, Witness and Service at one time. A news report stated the AFP accused Dr. Montes as a member of a special unit of the New People’s Army (NPA) formed to liquidate General Jovito Palparan.

This latest assault on human rights is a manifestation of a dysfunctional system claiming democracy yet denying basic rights to its citizens. It is a system where warlords are entitled their rights if not coddled by the powers that be while members of NGOs and people's organizations are not. It is a system where those who cause people's pain are allowed their maximum day in court and are even set free while those who ease the people’s pain are labeled members of the NPA, leftists, communists, ad infinitum, arrested and tortured then denied any right, constitutional or otherwise.

Such is the intention of the anti-insurgency policy of the state through Oplan Bantay Laya II. There can be no better ingredient for more social and political dissent than the brazen affront to human dignity like, illegal arrests and detention, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The best ingredient to quell any further dissent is to resolve once and for all the festering issues of corruption, poor governance, agrarian unrest, development aggression and political degeneration that have confined the people in this republic in a state of misery and poverty.

We appeal to the authorities to release these health workers. With a dwindling budget for health, the least the government could do is to support non-government initiatives whose leaders and constituents, more often than not, represent the ideals of genuine community service and Christian selflessness. We also reiterate our call for the government to adopt and heed the recommendations of Prof. Philip Alston, the Special Rapporteur on extra judicial, summary or arbitrary executions, particularly to review its counter-insurgency program. Oplan Bantay Laya is an instrument for terror. It has no place in a democratic society.

To our partners around the world, please continue to uphold us in your prayers and be unceasing in your solidarity with us.


REV. REX RB REYES, JR.
General Secretary

Statement of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE PHILIPPINES
L.M. Vasquez Street, Malate, Manila
Tel. # (02) 536-8005; Email Add: uccpnaof@yahoo.com



Release Dr. Alexis Montes and other detained health workers!

“Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then as free people and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.” Galatians 5:1

Dr. Alexis Montes, a lay leader in the health ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, is a victim of illegal arrest, disappearance and detention. The United Church of Christ in the Philippines resolutely calls for an end to de-facto martial law tactics on the part of the Armed Forces in the Philippines and the Philippine National Police. We call for the respect of the human rights of Dr. Alex Montes and the 42 other detained health workers, including their rights to legal counsel, access to visitors, and due process. The ludicrous allegation that Dr. Alex was involved in a bomb-making training is deplorable; Dr Alex is a respected leader in the healing ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. We stand united and call for his release!

In the early morning (6am) of February 6, 2010, Dr. Alexis (Alex) Montes was illegally arrested and detained by the 202nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Rizal Philippine National Police. The Community Medical Foundation, Inc. (COMMED), where Dr. Alex Montes is currently employed, co-sponsored a First Responders Training for health workers in Morong, Rizal beginning February 1, 2010; Dr. Alex was assigned in the conducting of the training. Initial reports say that more than 300 military and police raided the retreat center at gunpoint. They arrested the 43 participants before even searching the premises. They later showed a shoddy search warrant for a certain Mario Condes as supposed basis for their raid. Dr. Alex was blindfolded and taken away in a military truck and we have not been able to confirm his whereabouts. It is suspected that Dr. Alex and the others are being held Camp Capinpin, Samaploc, Tanay, Rizal, but access has been denied to lawyers, family, colleagues and pastors who have tried to visit them.

The military alleges that the training was actually on bomb making. They claim to have found C4 explosives, a pistol, a revolver, three grenades, three Claymor mines and an improvised landmine. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 7, 2010) However, Dr. Melecia Velmonte who owns the retreat center where the training was being conducted asserted that the military had no witness to their search operations and would have easily planted the ammunitions. Dr. Velmonte also gave a lecture on infectious diseases at the training, but was not arrested with the other participants.

Dr. Alex Montes has been a long-time staff of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. From 1988-2003, Dr. Montes served as the Health Ministries Coordinator of the Christian Witness and Service program of the UCCP. He also served as Executive Secretary of Bishop Elmer Bolocon from 2001-2002. Dr. Alex has been instrumental in the development of UCCP hospitals, but his passion as always been providing health services to the underprivileged. Dr. Alex Montes has helped develop the community-based health programs of many of our institutions. Immediately prior to his service with The Community Medical Foundation, Dr. Montes was developing community-based health programs of the UCCP Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City. He served as Assistant to the Administrator for Internal and External Programs and Projects from 2007-2009.

We appeal to your support through the following actions:• Pray that Dr. Alexis Montes and the other 42 health workers will be surfaced and released.
• Write a letter to the following addresses and appeal for due process of the 43 detained health workers and especially for Dr. Alex Montez, respected UCCP lay leader.

You may send your communications to:
H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines
Voice: (+632) 564 1451 to 80
Fax: (+632) 742-1641 / 929-3968
Cell#: (+ 63) 919 898 4622 / (+63) 917 839 8462
E-mail: corres@op.gov.ph / opnet@ops.gov.ph

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
7th Floor Agustin Building I
Emerald Avenue
Pasig City 1605
Voice:+63 (2) 636 0701 to 066
Fax:+63 (2) 638 2216
osec@opapp.gov.ph

Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Room 301 DND Building, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo,
E. de los Santos Avenue, Quezon City
Voice:+63(2) 911-9281 / 911-0488
Fax:+63(2) 911 6213
Email: osnd@philonline.com

Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura St., Manila
Direct Line 521-8344; 5213721
Trunkline 523-84-81 loc.214
Fax: (+632) 521-1614
Email: soj@doj.gov.ph

Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
SAAC Bldg., UP Complex
Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Voice: (+632) 928-5655, 926-6188
Fax: (+632) 929 0102
Email: chr.delima@yahoo.com


For Reference:
Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua
General Secretary
0917-8057167

Statement of Solidarity from the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

18 February 2010

SOLIDARITY STATEMENT

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…”
Mark 2:17

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) expresses solidarity to the forty three (43) health workers who were illegally arrested on February 6th while attending a seminar conducted by a non-government organization, the Council for Health and Development, in Morong town, Rizal province in the Philippines. The health workers were brought to Camp Capinpin, Rizal where they were detained and tortured. Since their arrest, they have been denied visits of relatives and friends. It was only through the intervention of Commissioner Leila de Lima of the Commission on Human Rights that some of the relatives were able to see their loved ones on Tuesday, February 9th. A writ of habeas corpus has been filed by the family members of the detained health workers in the Supreme Court.

The detained health workers include Dr. Alexis Montes, a member and former national health program coordinator of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. The arrest, detention, torture and false accusations hurled on him are intended to malign the Christian commitment and service Dr. Alexis Montes has been giving to the poor, deprived and oppressed communities in the Philippine society.

In this situation of the 43 detained and tortured Filipino health workers, we assert the statement of Jesus Christ, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…” which is an ethical assertion of attending to the health needs of the poor and sick people that these 43 health workers have unselfishly responded to. Therefore, we join the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and our partner church the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in calling for the respect of the human rights of Dr. Alexis Montes and the 42 other detained health workers, including their rights to legal counsel, access to visitors, and due process, as guaranteed by the Philippines Constitution and international human rights instruments to which the Philippines is a signatory. We urge the authorities to ensure the immediate release of Dr Montes and his co-workers.


REV. BAE TAE-JIN
General Secretary
The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK)

The Morong 43-Filipino Health Workers Become an International Concern

In my previous blog, the statement of KASAMMAKO has decried the Philippine security forces for illegally arrested, detained and tortured the 43 health workers who were peacefully assembled in a farmhouse attending a seminar on health procedures in times of calamity. Today, in the Philippines daily inquirer webpage, inquirer.net mentioned the following and quoted here below:

18 February 2010.
Inquirer.net
Int’l outrage growing over ‘Morong 43’ case
By Alcuin Papa
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:58:00 02/18/2010

Filed Under: Human Rights, Torture, Military, Healthcare Providers, insurgency
MANILA, Philippines—International outrage over the arrest, detention and torture of the “Morong 43” is growing.

A Methodist delegation, led by Rev. Sandra Richards, said her congregation in the United States had expressed concern over the detention of the 43 health workers who were arrested on Feb. 6 in Morong, Rizal, on suspicion that they were communist rebels.

“The issue is already of international concern. We received an e-mail today from our General Board of Church and Society and they are expressing concern,” said Richards, who went to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal to visit the detainees on Tuesday.
Richards also said that on Feb. 12, the World Council of Churches issued a statement requesting the immediate release of the 43 detainees. The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches seeking unity in the Christian service.
Two presidential candidates in the May elections have also expressed concern over the situation of the detainees.

Villar, Perlas“I condemn any violation or abuse of human rights,” Sen. Manuel Villar, standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party, said in a statement.
Villar said “the manner and circumstances of the arrest and detention already raised a lot of questions. Thus, the authorities should ensure that the legal procedures will be followed.”

Nicanor Perlas, an independent presidential candidate, called on the military to release the health workers, saying the “practice of medicine should be given to all regardless of their political ideologies.”

“The members of the medical profession should not be subjected to any harm or danger in the performance of their official functions as embodied in the Geneva Convention,” Perlas said in a statement.

He said the arrest of the Morong 43 while they were conducting health training showed the need to professionalize the police and the military.
“And, if the rights of these workers were, in any way, violated, those responsible should be held accountable,” Perlas said.

Richards, who was accompanied by Rev. David Farley and Rev. Irwin Lee McKlenshaw, tried to visit the Morong 43 on Tuesday.

They are members of the United Methodist Church California-Pacific conference. The congregation’s General Board of Church and Society is one of four international programs of the church.

Lay minister a detainee
One of the detainees, Dr. Alex Montes, is a lay leader of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), a Christian denomination formed by the merger of various congregations, including the Methodists.

“He is a well-respected surgeon and had given up his material well-being to serve the poor. We don’t think acts of mercy are criminal acts,” Richards said.

US lawmakersRichards said her group would bring the issue to US legislators belonging to the Democratic Party, including Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, both of California, and Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii.

Boxer chaired hearings in the US Senate in 2007 on extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, while Sanchez is a member of the House committee on armed services and homeland security and the joint economic committee in the US Congress.Inouye championed a bill giving aid to Filipino World War II veterans and their families.

Protest at RP consulates
Kuunsela Hilo, vice chair of Bayan USA, who was part of Richards’ party, said Filipinos and non-Filipinos had been holding protest actions at Philippine consular offices in the United States, including Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York, asking for the release of the Morong 43.

“It’s definitely an international issue especially with so many Filipino health care workers abroad,” Hilo told the Inquirer.

She said national labor unions in the United States like the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance had sent letters to US and Philippine officials “condemning the ongoing treatment, detention and torture of the 43 health workers.”Richards’ party met with Commission on Human Rights Chair Leila de Lima on Tuesday morning at her office in Quezon City.

De Lima, for her part, said the CHR would exhaust all remedies to secure the release of the Morong 43. If all else fails, the CHR can also bring the issue to the United Nations, she said.

Left out in the heat
Richards lamented the hardships the families of the detainees were undergoing just to see their loved ones.

“These are young men and women, children and grandparents waiting to see their loved ones. One poor family had come from very far. They had not seen their daughter. They were left out in the heat all day waiting. We were moved by the plight of the parents and families of the detainees,” she said.

Based on stories told to them by the families, Richards said some of the detainees “fear the coming of the night” because they would be interrogated. The detainees also suffered psychological torture.

De Lima said that based on the report of Richards’ party, the families were waiting on Tuesday to see the detainees since morning. But it was only close to 4 p.m. that they were able to spend just five minutes with the detainees. With reports from DJ Yap and Jocelyn R. Uy

Forty Three Health Workers Illegally Arrested, Detained and Tortured

08 February 2010

H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace,
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines

Gen. Avelino Razon, Ret. PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)

Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense

Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice

Atty. Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights

Dear President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sirs and Mesdames:

We, leaders and members of the Katipunan ng mga Samahan ng Migranteng Manggagawa sa Korea (KASAMMAKO) or the Alliance of Organizations of Filipino Migrant Workers in Korea vehemently condemn the illegal arrest of 43 health workers in Morong, Rizal on February 6, 2010, conducted by the joint elements of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army (202nd IBPA), and Rizal Philippine National Police (PNP) headed by Colonel Aurelio Baladad, commander of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Tanay, Rizal and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong of the Rizal PNP.

The actions of the military and police personnel constitute violation of domicile; destruction of property; divestment of property; illegal search and seizure illegal arrest; illegal detention; threat, harassment and intimidation, and fear for safety victims.

These actions are brutish and with no regard for the rights and civil liberties of individual persons as guaranteed in Philippine Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. As informed and organized Filipino migrant workers, we are angered by the sheer abuse of power and discretion by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mr. Norberto Gonzales, the military generals and their commanding officers involved in this crafty scheme of things. We have no other way to describe this ongoing situation in the Philippines but barbarity, worse than martial law. The narrative of witnesses of the illegal arrest and other violations of human rights that took place on Saturday February 6 in residential compound of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal cannot belie our description of the country right now.

The initial reports gathered by Karapatan, at 6:15 am on February 6, 2010, around 300 heavily armed elements of the military and police forced their way into the farm of Dr. Melecia Velmonte in Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal. At gunpoint, the military forced the caretaker to open the gates. Inside, the soldiers fanned out to different directions. They also kicked the main door to get into the building. When Dr. Velmonte and her son, Bob demanded for a search warrant, they were merely brushed aside by the military.

All medical practitioners and health workers, were ordered to line up at the garage, frisked, and handcuffed. The victims were also questioned and photographed by the military, while another took a video recording of the interrogation. The male victims were then blindfolded with old shirts brought in by the soldiers and secured with packaging tape. All of the personal belongings of the victims were also taken by the military.

When the participants were already handcuffed, it was only then that Police Superintendent Marion P. Balonglong showed Bob a search warrant for a certain Mario Condes of Bgy. Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal, charged with illegal possession of firearms. The search warrant dated February 5, 2010 and issued by Judge Cesar A. Mangrobang of Branch 22 of the Imus, Cavite Regional Trial Court, did not indicate the exact address of the Velmonte compound.

Bob asserted that the warrant did not specify their address, and that Mario Condes, who is subject of the warrant, is not even the owner of the house, but he was ignored by the authorities.

Outside the compound, were eight (8) vehicles. Along with the four (4) 6 x 6 military trucks were two (2) Armored Personnel Carriers (APC), a KIA Pride car, and an ambulance. Some of the vehicles had no plate numbers while the rest of the license plates were either covered, or smeared with mud.

The health workers were forced into the military trucks and were brought to Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal, headquarters of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of Philippine Army. The military declared that the victims were members of the New People’s Army because of the explosives allegedly found inside the compound. However, according to witnesses, the military conducted the search of the compound’s premises only after all of the victims, as well as the residents, were already outside the buildings. Witnesses also said that the military have brought in with them plastic bags with the GMA Kapuso logo printed on it.

Allegedly found were C4 explosives, a pistol with seven bullets, 3 grenades (one allegedly found under a pillow); beside the grenade were some improvised landmines. However, Bob said that they were not issued a receipt of the inventory of the said firearms and explosives. The illegal search of the Velmonte compound ended at past 9:00 in the morning of Saturday, February 6, 2010. The military and police arresting team were led by Col. Aurelio Baladad and Police Superintendent Marion Balonglong.

In the afternoon of the same day, Karapatan Deputy Secretary General Roneo Clamor, husband of Dr. Merry Mia, Olive Bernardo, Karapatan Services Head, along with Karapatan counsel, Atty. Ephraim Cortez, Dr. Geneve Rivera and Dr. Edelina De La Paz, chairperson of Health Action for Human Rights (HAHR), went to Camp Capinpin to inquire about the victims. They were not allowed to enter the camp premises. As of this writing, the military has not allowed any of the relatives of the victims to see anyone of them.

We express our support and solidarity to the following doctors, health workers and caretakers in their fight for justice:

Illegally arrested and illegally detained (partial list):
• Dr. Mary Mia, Health Education and Training Services coordinator for Council for Health and Development (CHD)
• Dr. Alexis Montes
• Gary Liberal, Registered Nurse (Jose Reyes Medical Memorial Center)
• Teresa Quinawayan, Midwife
• Lydia Ubera, health worker
• Reynaldo Makabenta, health worker
• Delia Ocasla, health worker
• Jane Balleta, health worker
• Janice Javier, health worker
• Franco Remoroso, health worker
• Ailene Monasteryo, health worker
• Pearl Irene Martinez, health worker
• Ellen Carandang, health worker
• Dany Panero, health worker
• Rayom Among, health worker
• Emily Marquez, health worker

Victims of threat, harassment and intimidation and violation of domicile:
• Dr. Melecia Velmonte
• Bob Velmonte
• Bernardo Landag
• Two caretakers

We demand that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the respective government agencies do the following urgent actions:

1. The immediate release of the health workers who are illegally arrested and illegally detained at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal.

2. The government to ensure the safety of the victims and that they are not harmed; their belongings be returned immediately to them.

3. The immediate formation of an independent fact-finding and investigation team composed of representatives from human rights groups, the Church, local government, and the Commission on Human Rights that will look into raid and illegal arrest of the health workers conducting health skills training in Morong, Rizal.

4. The military to stop the labeling and targeting of human rights defenders as “members of front organizations of the communists” and “enemies of the state.”

5. The Philippine Government to be reminded that it is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and that it is also a party to all the major Human Rights instruments, thus it is bound to observe all of these instruments’ provisions.


Very truly yours,

Mr. Pol Par
Chairperson
KASAMMAKO
Seoul, South Korea
09 February 2010