“This massacre is a grim reminder of the pervading culture of impunity and the lack of respect for human rights that has been in our midst and that has turned for the worse since 2001,” says Rev. Fr. Rex RB Reyes, Jr., NCCP General Secretary.

“We are indignant of the lack of political will of the government to stop these killings. The gruesome massacre of unarmed civilians is also a painful reminder that government statements to the dismantling of political warlordism have been mere rhetoric.”

Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, is currently working with the NCCP in this region to promote understanding between religious groups, including Muslims, Christians and Indigenous people, so that they can find common ground on the path to peace and justice.   

Act for Peace has been a long-term supporter of the NCCP, which is running programs to promote free and fair elections and reduce violence in the lead up to the 2010 elections.

“More pressure must be brought to bear on the Philippine government to stop the proliferation of small arms and local clan militias,” said Alistair Gee, Executive Director of Act for Peace. 

“With 87,000 candidates contesting over 17,000 political positions, from senators to city councilors, vote-buying, bribery, intimidation and violence is rife.  Mindanao is a festering time-bomb and the up-coming May 2010 elections combined with the impact of the global downturn is likely to provide the trigger for a mass increase in the violence.”

Among the 57 killed were 13 journalists, two outspoken local human rights lawyers and a colleague of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.  

“Today, we particularly mourn the loss of one of our beloved colleagues at NCCP, Concepcion ‘Connie’ Brizuela, who was among those gunned-down. She was a prominent local human rights defender and a tireless advocate for women,” said Mr. Gee.

“This was an abhorrent and pre-mediated massacre.  Mass graves had been dug prior to the group’s roadside abduction by armed gunmen.  There is no excuse for the cold-blooded civilian killings, much less deliberately targeting journalists and human rights defenders travelling to witness the registration of electoral candidates.  Never have so many journalists lost their lives in the one day.  Please keep the family and friends of these victims and the National Council of Churches of the Philippines in your prayers.”  

To download the high resolution photo that aligns with this media release, please go to:  http://www.actforpeace.org.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/Christmasbowl/philippines-peace-training2.jpg

 If you would like to support the work of NCCP, please give to the Christmas Bowl, Act for Peace’s annual Christmas appeal, today.  You can donate online through our secure give page at http://www.actforpeace.org.au/  or free call us on 1800 025 101.  The Christmas Bowl is a program of Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia. Working through church partners, Act for Peace empowers war-torn communities to reduce poverty, protect refugees and prevent further conflict.

 For further comment call Alistair Gee, Executive Director of Act for Peace:  0417 672 650