Home Headlines ‘Justice for Fr. Tito’ launched in N. Ecija

‘Justice for Fr. Tito’ launched in N. Ecija

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CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), a mission partner of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines, (AMRSP) joined yesterday the launching of the “Justice for Fr. Tito Movement” initiated by multi-sectoral group seeking justice for the killing of Fr. Marcelito “Tito” Paez who was fatally shot in Barangay Lambakin in Jaen, Nueva Ecija last Dec. 4.

“We demand justice for Fr. Tito who was brutally and unjustly killed due to his progressive advocacies and commitment to serve the rural poor,” said Sister Elen Belardo, RMP national coordinator, during the launching held at the San Jose City cathedral in Nueva Ecija.

“It was an act against Church people and part of an effort to sow fear and terror among those who oppose the militarist and tyrannical character of the Duterte government and to silence those who continue to denounce the extra-judicial killings and human rights abuses of this regime,” the nun added.

In a statement, the movement recalled that “Fr. Tito, who was the regional coordinator of RMP in Central Luzon and a member of the RMP national board, was driving his vehicle along a road in Jaen town, at 8 p.m. of December 4 when he was attacked and shot at by motorcycle-riding assailants suspected to be state security forces.”

“He was brought immediately to the hospital but died hours later. Earlier that day, he assisted in facilitating the release of political detainee Rommel Tucay from the Provincial Jail in Cabanatuan City. Tucay, an organizer of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson-Nueva Ecija (AMGL-NE) who was arrested last March 2017 in Carranglan,” the statement said.

Belardo said that “ultimately, we hold President Duterte responsible for the intensifying attacks against rural missionaries, activists and human rights advocates and we call on the religious community to denounce these attacks,” Sr. Elen said“We are facing perilous times when no one is safe. Let us work together and raise our voices against this regime’s disregard for human rights and people’s lives.”

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