The cry of Nehemiah is also the cry of Church people in the horrible killing of Benjamin “Benjie” Bayles cold heartedly done by confirmed organic members of 61st Infantry Batallion of Phil. Army.

"But they were disobedient and rebelled against you Lord;
they put your law behind their backs.
They killed your prophets, who had admonished them
in order to turn them back to you;
they committed awful blasphemies.” -------- Nehemiah 9:25-

PROMOTION OF CHURCH PEOPLE’S RESPONSE - NEGROS | The above verse taken from the Book of Prophet Nehemiah is the cry of anguish after seeing how cold hearted the perpetuators became that they went to the extent of killing the prophets sent by God whose only mission is to admonished them of their atrocities and return back to the Lord.

The cry of Nehemiah is also the cry of Church people in the horrible killing of Benjamin “Benjie” Bayles cold heartedly done by confirmed organic members of 61st Infantry Batallion of Phil. Army.

Benjamin E. Bayles, 44 years old, parish worker Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and an active Aglipayan Forum Coordinator, was shot dead  while standing along the national highway waiting for public transport near the waiting shed of Sitio Antolo, Barangay Buenavista at around 4:30 in the afternoon  of June 14, 2010. In the hot pursuit operation of the PNP the alleged perpetrators were caught in Kabankalan City,   Roger Bahon and Ronnie Caurino admitted that both are “organic” member of the 61stIBPA.

We strongly condemn in the highest form the gruesome death of the said Church person whose only struggle is the realization of truth, justice and peace.  Because of this unshakable belief, Benjie involved himself in the various caused oriented groups such as the local KARAPATAN human rights group Sept.21 Movement, Bayan Muna, and National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW).

We are greatly appalled in the continuing Extra Judicial Killings. We shared the anguish of the relatives who grieved over the extra-judicial killed of more than a thousand people since 2001. We were saddened by stories of torture and the enforced disappearance of more than 200 people. We lamented the forcible evacuation and displacement of thousands of people in the rural areas as a result of military operations.

We do not wonder at this as the current state of things – the continuing political repression, vilification of legitimate oppositions, abduction of activists, systematic attacks on people's organizations, and unabated political killings –exposes Mrs. Arroyo's perspective on human rights issues. She has even exonerated, over and over again, the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the slaughter of militants and activists who are critical and opposed to her government.

The killing of Benjie is not just an EJK case. It represent the scale and magnitude of the gruesome impact of OBL. It is a counter-insurgency program that has not made a distinction between armed combatants and civilians propelled by the burning desire to serve and promote significant changes for the better in the lives of people mired in systemic poverty and neglect. The victims are farmers, workers, community leaders, indigenous people, Muslims, activists, students, health workers, churchworkers, lawyers, journalists, human rights defenders and party-list organizers and volunteers. None in recent memory can match the viciousness of the OBL and the human toll on civilians whose only crime, if indeed it was a crime that warranted their deaths and suffering, was principled dissent against government and in favor of the welfare of the majority, the safeguarding of posterity and patrimony of this country. The OBL is very much in place. With the year 2010 as the deadline to beat and the coming end of GMA regime it means more bloodbath.

To this day not a single perpetrator of these killings and violence to human life has been convicted. It is a chilling indictment on a government which claims adherence to democracy. It breeds righteous indignation and fuels further discontent.

Our reflection bids us to hold high the struggle for the vindication of the innocent and the punishment of those who willfully destroyed life. Our reflection bids us demand of those in power that perpetrators of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violation be brought to the bars of justice. The Arroyo Government must be held accountable for the repressive OBL and the death, disappearance and abuse of innocent civilians in the name of counter-insurgency.

We are people who believe in God’s redeeming love and call to be one people under God’s sovereignty. There can be no more compelling reason for us to bear witness and denounce this travesty, than the call to live out and bear witness to our baptism that calls us to uphold the sanctity of life. One killing is one too many. Oplan Bantay Laya is an abomination – an instrument of violence, bloodshed and defiance of the divine will of abundant life for all. It must be stopped. It must be condemned.

JUSTICE FOR BENJIE BAYLES!
JUSTICE FOR ALL THE VICTIMS OF EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS!
STOP OPLAN BANTAY LAYA!