Justice for Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio and all victimsofextra-judicial killings!

73rd IB SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE KILLING OF THEPRIEST, LONG-TIME CHILDRIGHTS ADVOCATE

Inside the Mother ofPerpetual Help parish inthe midst of the highlands of Arakan Valley, North Cotabato, Fr. Fausto “Pops”Tentorio was killed by the paramilitary group under the 73rd IB.  According to Salinlahi Alliance for Children’sConcerns, an umbrella organization ofchild-rights focused organizationsnationwide; this is aclear manifestation of the counter-insurgency program dubbed Oplan Bayanihanand the reigning impunity in our society.

FatherPops, was a member of the Board of Trustees of a child rights organization,Association for the Rights of Children on Southeast Asia (ARCSEA)focusing onprojects concerning children of indigenous peoples from 2003 to 2005.“Fr. Popswas very dedicated in pursuing the Early Childhood Care and Development inArakan Valley, North Cotabato. Under his care, almost 30 day caresandliteracy-numeracy programs and schools for the Lumads were built to inresponse to the education needs of Lumad children,” stated Melissa SanMiguel,Spokesperson of Salinlahi.

Fr.Pops initiated trainings for Lumad para-teachers and tapped an organizationthat has expertise on nationalist, mass-oriented and scientificeducation whichis the Parent’s Alternative on Early Childhood Care and Development Inc.(PAECCDI), a Salinlahi’s member organization.  “Fr. Pops was one of thevery diligent child rights advocate-priests who never tired of serving thechildren and the rest ofthe Lumads in the area. He provided what thegovernment cannot provide: education for Lumad children,” said SanMiguel.  “More than that, he gavethe Lumads the dignity of a decent life that the government has consistentlyfailed todo.”

Accordingto San Miguel, the government should be thankful for people like Fr. Pops whoserve enthusiastically to the oppressed people but instead, like otheractivists serving the poor and the oppressed, the military chose to silencehim.  “The sad truth in this kind of society is that whoever serves theoppressed were the ones who were killed by State forces. And what was morefrustrating is that instead of support from the government for his projects forchildren, these projects became objects of military violence.”

Salinlahiand child rights advocates from various children’s organizations will join theBagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) for acandle-lighting later in the afternoonat Plaza Miranda in Manila to call onthe Aquino government to hold accountablethe military forces in Arakan Valleyfor the killing of Father Pops and to callfor the removal of the troops in Arakan Valley.  “Numerous human rights violationsagainst children have been reported during the Aquino administration but thisis the first case of the killing of child rights advocate.  Child rights advocatesshould be up in arms against this brutal act and work together to endimpunity!” San Miguel ended.###