PURSUE THE FORMAL PEACE TALKS

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines renews its call for the Philippine Government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines to proceed with the formal peace talks.  The peace talks is a response to the yearning for peace and justice by the long-suffering majority in this country.  To delay it further is to pass on a responsibility which was within the means of the present to resolve, display the lack of will to deal with the barriers to a just and lasting peace and betray the faith in the Filipino.

Many agreements and resolutions have already been signed by both parties.  Among them are The Hague Declaration, the Breukelen Joint Statement, the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees, the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law and recently, the Oslo resolution of February 2011.  We have celebrated the signing of these agreements aware that these were achieved painstakingly and with the welfare of the people in mind.

The NCCP believes that these agreements are guideposts towards a successful peace negotiations.  These are consistent with the Biblical mandate to “seek peace and pursue it” (IPeter 3:11).  Furthermore, we understand that the greater population of this country has delegated the power and authority to pursue just and lasting peace to those who are now called to see it through.  We enjoin the parties to consider the foregoing charge.

We urge both parties to abide by and build on all previously signed agreements.  Continue the discussion in a manner befitting a genuine advocate of just and lasting peace.  May the God of peace give you the will and the grace to accomplish this task.

We also urge our constituents in the ecumenical movement and to fellow citizens of this country to hold on to the vision of peace.  Amidst the diversity of gifts of the faith is the divine invitation to proclaim and live out the call for peace on earth and with the earth.  Let us be steadfast in chanting God’s greatness and power in the struggle for abundant life.  Our unceasing prayer for peace and injustice includes our prayers that the men and women involved in the peace talks will persevere.  As the enthusiasm of the people for just and lasting peace refuses to fade away so do we urge the two parties to hold on to that same enthusiasm until we shall all dwell comfortably in our homes, own the lands we till and live in dignity according to the work of our hands.

signed

REV. REX RB REYES, JR.

General Secretary

signed

BISHOP NATHANAEL P. LAZARO

Chairperson

September 2, 2011

 

to download the PDF file, click here 

Drop the Trumped-up Charges Against Pastor Edwin Egar and the Rest of the ST 72

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) is extremely alarmed over the revival of charges against the “Southern Tagalog 72” or “ST 72”.  The ST 72 is the collective name for church people, lawyers, human rights workers and leaders of people’s organizations who were charged by the military with fabricated cases of multiple murders and frustrated multiple murders.  This is the third time that charges were filed against the 72.  The two previous cases were dismissed.  This new case is clearly a form of harassment.  It further reflects the gnawing thought that when it comes to human rights, there seems to be no difference between the old and new dispensations. 

What makes this very alarming for the NCCP is that two church people are on the list:  Pastor Mel Abesamis of the United Methodist Church (UMC) and Pastor Edwin Egar of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP).  The UMC and UCCP are member churches of the NCCP.  Moreover, this issue strikes home because Pastor Egar is responsible for the Advocacy and Campaign component of the NCCP’s Human Rights Program – “Defending the Defenders”, aimed at strengthening human rights defenders and bettering the situation of victims and families of human rights violations, which is also funded by the European Union under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). He had previous stints with NCCP, as Human Rights Program Regional Coordinator for South Luzon from 2003-2004 and later on was a volunteer staff of our Relief and Rehabilitation services.

In February 11, 2009, Pastor Egar was abducted by armed men in Macalamcam, Rosario, Batangas.  It was only through the quick response of his church as well as friends in the human rights community that he was released a few hours later.  Since then he and his family had to relocate.  When the cases against him were dismissed, the NCCP took him in again as staff member to help him rebuild his life and enable him to continue in his ministry for peace and human rights.  This new case against him and the 71 others, one of who has since died, is reliving a nightmare.

We condemn in the strongest terms this latest attempt to harass human rights defenders and leaders of people’s organizations critical of government policies and the continuing climate of impunity.  Would that the government focus on ensuring that justice be accorded to victims of human rights violations by prosecuting violators and not going after those who are working for human rights like Pastor Egar.  In the name of justice, we urge that these charges be withdrawn immediately. END

For more information, please contact:

REV. FR. REX REYES, JR., NCCP General Secretary

Ms. Biyaya Quizon, NCCP Media Liaison Officer

The above NCCP statement was forwarded to the Databank and Library by Ms. Quizon.  The ecumenical community continuously appeal to all partners (local and abroad) and freedom-loving fellows to concretely support this campaign in solidarity to the victims and their families in ending the climate of impunity in the country - the library staff

NCCP statement on the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

 

March 12, 2011
 

We reach out in solidarity to the sisters and brothers in Japan at this time of unfathomable grief, sorrow and anxiety. May God's providence be cast upon them all. May those involved in rescue and clearing out operations be spared from any injury.

Even as we grieve with the people of Japan, we yet give thanks that many countries, including our own, were spared from the devastation of tsunamis. We also wish to express our elation at the way the men and women of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology worked with dispatch to inform potential target areas of any tsunami and the way local governments responded to the alarm. We hope that our consul in Japan will exert every effort to secure Filipino citizens in Japan not only to respond to their needs but also to ease the anxiety of their families here.

We urge everyone, especially the constituency of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, to be fervent and unceasing in prayer for the people of Japan and all other nationals working therein. In our churches, in our homes, at work and with friends, may we find brief moments to intentionally reach out to them in prayer and commit them to God's mercy and protection.

signed

Padi REX RB REYES, JR.

NCCP General Secretary

signed

Bishop NATHANAEL P. LAZARO

NCCP Chairperson

Vigilance, A Must In The May 2010 Elections

May 7, 2010

Vigilance, A Must In The May 2010 Elections

“righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people”

(Proverb 14:34)

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the largest aggrupation of mainline Protestant and non-Roman Catholic churches and service institutions in the country, exhorts its members and the general public to be doubly vigilant as the first automated electoral exercise is held in the country.

The Automated Election System Watch (AESWatch), which counts the NCCP among its members, had for months raised the issue of putting safeguards to the system.  AESWatch raised the concern following the so-called 30 vulnerabilities of the AES uncovered by the Center for People’s Empowerment in Governance (CENPEG).  On our own, we have produced a Primer for Voters’ education used intensively by our constituent member churches in their voters’ education seminars.  The primer underlined vigilance against any threat to the electoral process including but not limited to extensions of terms and return to military rule.  Along with equally minded organizations, we have sought the presence of our partners abroad to observe the electoral process.

In a couple of days we shall troop to the polls to choose our leaders.  Events in the last few days have proven the fears expressed by AESWatch and other groups.  The concerns, dismissed earlier by the Commission on Elections as coming from doomsayers and saboteurs, are with basis.  The recent failure of the PCOS (Precinct Count Optical Scan) machines to properly account for the test ballots is an indication.  All the more reason for us to be alarmed.

Our call for vigilance is primarily intended to prevent wholesale electronic cheating.  We are as concerned as anybody else with a credible election consistent with the respect to the right of suffrage and for this exercise to be an instrument in improving the lives of the people.  Systematic fraud will subvert democracy as it subverts the people’s will.

Let us pray fervently and work vigorously that the result of this election will truly reflect our choice.  Where there is rampant cheating and violence let us expose it.  Where there is mockery let us denounce it.  Our people power will not be for any candidate but for the people’s interest and welfare.  These and the peaceful transition of power, are our duties as citizens and Christians.  All in all, they are our best option.

Go and vote and guard your vote!  Vote for political parties, party list groups and candidates who have proven themselves as championing the cause of poor farmers, workers, urban poor, indigenous people, youth, women and all marginalized sectors.  Vote for them who will proudly raise our sovereign flag and pursue genuine national development and the positive transformation of our society.

Go and vote in the love, peace and service of the Lord!

signed

Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes, Jr.

General Secretary

signed

Bishop Nathanael P. Lazaro

Chairperson

NCCP Statement on the arrest and continued detention of forty three health workers

No to Martial Law!

NCCP statement on the massacre in Maguindanao

Message to God's People, Hopes for God's Creation

NCCP mourns and honors a lady president

The NCCP and some friends visited the Times Street home of former President Corazon C. Aquino to join the nation in mourning and honoring the country’s mother and symbol of people’s struggle against dictatorship.

The statement

NO BNPP Revival inter-faith gathering in Bataan

Some photos of the gathering...

A video of the march held before the assembly...

Did the interfaith gathering achieved its goal? You be the judge.

The NCCP Statement on the issue...

For more information on this issue you can check out the Wikipedia article on the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. For more info on this campaign please check the Network Opposed to the BNPP Revival website.

A Public Faith, A Social Witness: Statements and Resolutions of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (Volume 3)

"...This Compilation of Statements and Resolutions articulate in concrete terms the theological reflections and policy papers of the Council..." (from the preface written by the Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes, Jr, NCCP General Secretary)

The book is now out and is available at the Library. This 277-page volume 3 is for sale, priced at Php350.00. Copies of volumes 1 and 2 are also available. For details please call the secretariat at the numbers below:

General Administration: (632) 929 3745
Communications and Research: (632) 925 1797
Library: (632) 927 0182

2009 06 03 nccp statement on congress voting to transform itself into a constitutional assembly