Another UCCP member shot dead in front of UCCP Church in Mindoro Oriental

Samson “Mike” Rivera, UCCP active member of the United Evangelical church in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro was shot and killed Sunday morning just before he was to attend church services.

Anti-mining Activist and UCCP member shot and killed in Oriental Mindoro

Samson “Mike” Rivera, UCCP active member of the United Evangelical church in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro was shot and killed Sunday morning just before he was to attend church services.

Rivera another victim of extra judicial killing, was the chairperson of the UCCP – United Evangelical Church in Calapan City, member of the council of the UCCP Mindoro Conference, a Provincial Administrator of the Provincial Capitol in Oriental Mindoro and also known as an anti-mining advocate.

Chief Superintendent Paul Mascariñas stated that Mike Rivera had just gotten out of his car around 9:15am in front of the Calapan United Evangelical Church of the Philippines on Ramirez Street, San Vicente Central when two unidentified gunmen fired at him.  Rivera was shot once in the head and the chest, he was taken immediately to Holy Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Rivera was officer of the non-governmental organization Kaunsayan Formation for Community Development (Kafcode), which advocates, among others, environmental protection.  His wife Doris is currently director of Kafcode and active in the civil society movement.

The UCCP condemns the brutal killing of our modern prophet and environmental advocate!

Pastor Juliet Solis-Aguilar
National Program Coordinator
Justice, Peace & Human Rights Programs
United Church of Christ in the Philippines