Justice for Fr. Cecilio Lucero, Human Rights Advocate!

Press Statement of the Inter-Faith Justice and Peace Network on September 8, 2009 Regarding the Extra-Judicial Killing of Fr. Cecilio Lucero

We, in the Interfaith Justice and Peace Network strongly condemns the barbaric killing of Fr. Cecilio Lucero, a Roman Catholic Parish Priest of Catubig, Northern Samar. Fr. Lucero was known for his human rights advocacy through his efforts as director of Social Action Center of the Diocese of Catarman. According to his fellow priest Fr. Lucero "was very active to go around parishes to investigate human rights-cases and in holding dialogue with the military". We received vital information that one day prior to the killing of Fr. Lucero on September 6 a certain peasant leader/activist Romulo Mendova was also killed on September 5 within the boundary of Sitio Cambabang of Barangay Cogon and Barangay Cancaiyas in Basey, Samar.

According to the report, since December of last year, extra judicial killings have been continuing in the said Diocese. Report said that "the priest had multiple bullet wounds in the head and body" that speedily killed him. The pattern of killing is being systematically done through ambush and riding motorcycle men wearing bonnets.

We believe that his killing is related to his being a human rights advocate and critical to the human rights violations of the military in Samar. This circumstance is another concrete and continuing manifestation of the culture of impunity in our country. We call on the Christian faithful, our religious sisters, brothers and people of good will to exercise our prophetic mission to denounce the extra-judicial killings and demand justice to the Philippine government for Fr. Cecilio Lucero and other victims of the extra judicial killings.

We hold on the Arroyo administration accountable for the massive human rights violations!

SR. MAUREEN S. CATABIAN, RGS Interfaith Justice and Peace Network
BRO. GILBERT S. BILLENA, O.CARM