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A Lenten call

This Lenten season, we remember Jesus Christ’s life and ministry in Rome, which were trying times for him who was tasked to establish God’s Kingdom. There, Jesus cured the sick, fed the hungry, forgave the sinners and yes, denounced the hypocrites. He gave his life in service of the people.

And because of the truth he proclaimed both in words and deeds, the Roman Empire was said to have been shaken to its very foundations. They found Jesus a threat, a dangerous man. Thus, he had to be eliminated, crucified.

Over the years, many men and women have relived the life of Christ, dedicating their very lives so that others may live.

And in this time of political turmoil and repression, we have seen those who were ruthlessly silenced in the same cause for the powers-that-be to have their way.

On March 13, a priest of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Fr. William Tadena, was the 12th among those killed because of the support they gave striking workers at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. On February 18, another IFI priest, Rev. Fr. Allan Caparo was ambushed by unidentified assassins in Western Samar. In northern Luzon. Bayan Muna Ilocos regional coordinator Romy Sanchez was gunned down on March 9 in Baguio City. Five days later, Eastern Visayas Bayan Muna coordinator Atty. Fidelito Dacut was shot dead in Tacloban City. The death toll just keeps mounting, and the government, a modern-day Pontius Pilate, washes its hands over these incidents.

We cannot help but ask the government if it has an undeclared policy to eliminate persons working for radical change. And anyone who does so is quickly branded “terrorists”.

But with this crackdown, who is really wreaking havoc and sowing terror? What is it that drives the government to eliminate those working for genuine change? As one progressive leader puts it, it could because the government cannot handle it anymore — the growing movement of people critical of its actions and determined to work out a government that is pro-people.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo employs the best of militarist traditions to impose government’s anti-people policies, such as in Mindoro province where human rights workers from Karapatan were abducted and murdered. We identify most of the suspects of these killings to be in the military and its intelligence operatives. In the government.

This Lenten season, let us remember all those who were persecuted and put to death for choosing to live a life of service to the people. Let us condemn the killings and repression among leaders and members of progressive organizations. Let us remain standing in indignation, persevering in serving the people.

As leaders of Philippine churches under the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) said, these trying times require us not to cease from being prophets who work in pursuit of peace and justice. #

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