CCA condemns illegal arrest of community health workers in the Philippines
16th February 2010Her Excellency
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
President of the Republic
Malacanang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila, Philippines Your Excellency: Following our letter of 10th February 2010, the Member Churches and
Member Councils of the Christian Conference of Asia in nineteen
countries in Asia is joined by churches in many parts of the world in
condemning the illegal arrest and continued detention of forty three
(43) community health workers in the Philippines. The churches also express grave concern about reports of torture
inflicted on the detainees and the denial of full visitation rights to
members of their families. Of particular concern to the churches is the case of Dr. Alexis Montes,
a lay leader in the United Church of Christ in the Philippines who has
devoted his services in furthering the healing ministry of the UCCP.
Employed by the Community Medical Foundation (COMMED), Dr. Montes along
with the rest of the forty-two (42) arrested health workers have been
engaged in the promotion of basic health rights of the majority of
Filipinos with no access to basic health services. While the 43 health workers are being kept in detention, a meeting of
the Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform is being held at the
Brokenshire Convention Center in Davao City, attended by bishops and
leaders of Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches in support of the
peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines
(GRP) and the National Democratic Front (NDFP), an expression of the
churches' commitment to the peace process in the Philippines. The Christian Conference of Asia calls on the Philippine Government for
the immediate release of the detainees and to uphold the rule of law and
respect for the rights and dignity of every Filipino citizen. Faithfully yours, PRAWATE KHID-ARN
General Secretary
Cc: General Avelino Razon, Ret PNP
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
Pasay City 1605, Philippines
osec@opapp.gov.ph
Mr. Norberto Gonzales
Secretary, Department of National Defense
Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA
Quezon City, Philippines
osnd@philonline.com Atty. Agnes Devanadera
Secretary, Department of Justice
Padre Faura Street, Manila, Philippines
soj@doj.gov.ph Atty Leila De Lima
Chairperson, Commission on Human Rights
UP Complex, Commonwealth Avenue
Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
chr.delima@yahoo.com Bishop Eliezer Pascua
General Secretary
United Church of Christ in the Philippines
Malate, Manila, Philippines
uccpnaof@yahoo.com
posted by cbs on Thursday, February 18, 2010
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Christian Conference of Asia
