Ecumenical bishops denounce ‘despotic’ Duterte gov’t for ‘persecution of church people’

The Ecumenical Bishops’ Forum (EBF) has denounced President Rodrigo Duterte and his administration for what it calls the "state-perpetuated political persecution" of the Church, including the recent arrest of Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents arrested the 71-year-old nun last Monday on Duterte's orders, with the President saying he ordered her investigated for "disorderly conduct."

A statement on Friday, signed by EBF heads Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and Right Reverend Felixberto Calang, affirmed the forum's denouncement of the government's "absurd" action against Fox.

"We express outrage at this evil-doing and demand that all politically motivated harassment against human rights defenders, peace and justice advocates, political activists, and church workers be put to a stop," the bishops said.

The EBF called for an end to alleged cases of political and religious persecution under Duterte’s rule.

"We demand that this administration stop the increasing and increasingly hostile attempts at silencing church people who accompany those that experience far more greater historical and structural injustices," the statement read.

The EBF said that other recent incidents, which it said manifest a "systematic state-sponsored attack on Church people," include the assassination of 72-year-old Nueva Ecija priest Father Marcelito Paez in December after he facilitated the release of a political prisoner.

They also recalled the May 2017 arrest of Iglesia Filipina Independiente Bishop and peace advocate Carlo Morales. The prelate was recently released on bail after being detained for a year.

"We hold the Duterte government accountable for the many cases, documented or otherwise, on the persecution of church people," the EBF said.

"This situation only reveals the hands of a despotic government that seeks to suppress the Church’s role as a moral compass of the society," they added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BM, GMA News