United Church of Christ in the Philippines
National Office
Press Release
16 January 2013
As a result of a meeting with Undersecretary Rafael Santos of the Department of Interior and Local Government today, UCCP Bishops await report on why the accused murderer of Jimmy Liguyon has yet to be arrested.
“The DILG has promised to respond within one week as to why the warrant of arrest on Jimmy Liguyon’s murderer Alde ‘Butsoy’ Salusad has not been served. They promised to determine a solution to effect the arrest. UCCP intends to hold them to this promise. It has been nearly nine months since the warrant of arrest was issued and the Liguyon family has endured so much grief, pain and threat on their lives; we urge the DILG to make good on their promise and ease the agony of the Liguyon family,” said Bishop Reuel N.O. Marigza after the meeting.
“Though we thank Undersecretary Santos for taking time to meet with us, we cannot help but be dissatisfied with the claim that he only knew of this matter recently, and thus needs time to investigate. We can give them a week to investigate the matter and we look forward to positive action. Still, we do wonder why the Aquino administration is not on top of this,” added Bishop Marigza.
The UCCP Bishops, who came from all over the Philippines for the dialogue with DILG, continue to press for an end to the climate of impunity.
“As the Church, we are deeply concerned with continuing human rights violations under the Aquino administration. We especially worry for our Church members and all the people of Barangay Dao who are being harassed and threatened by paramilitaries. Ultimately, we would like to see these paramilitary groups, who flagrantly violate the rule of law, disbanded. Pursuing justice for Jimmy Liguyon, a respected lay leader of the UCCP local church in Dao, San Fernando, Bukidnon, is a concrete expression of our desire to break the prevailing climate of impunity. We truly hope that the DILG will make good on their promise to help us by effecting the arrest of Alde Salusad,” concluded Bishop Marigza.
Reference:
Bishop Reuel N.O. Marigza
Available for interview through 0919-828-9514 (Becca Lawson, Media Liaison)
