Free Pastor Berlin Letter Campaign
PHILIPPINES: It has been one year that Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero has been in prison, we enjoin you to add your voice to the many who are praying for his release. We are appealing for you (individually) and/or your church/group/community to write letters to two places—the Supreme Court where a motion for Pastor Berlin’s release has been pending since August, 2007 and to the Solicitor General who is opposing Pastor Berlin’s release. We also ask that you send a copy of your appeal letters to the family of Pastor Berlin Guerrero both to boost their moral and so that we are able to update you any future actions of news on the case of Pastor Berlin.
Philippines
It has been one year since Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero has been in prison, we ask you to add your voice to the many who are praying for his release. We are appealing for you (individually) and/or your church/group/community to write letters to two places—the Supreme Court where a motion for Pastor Berlin’s release has been pending since August, 2007 and to the Solicitor General who is opposing Pastor Berlin’s release. We also ask that you send a copy of your appeal letters to the family of Pastor Berlin Guerrero both to boost their morale and so that we are able to update you on any future actions of news on the case of Pastor Berlin. We have highlighted in the sample letter below the number of weeks Pastor of Berlin has been detained. Our target is to organize local churches, ecumenical and international partners and solidarity links to send at least one letter per week as a sustained reminder of the broad support for Pastor Berlin and his family. Thank you very much for your support and participation.
Please send the following letter to the Supreme Court Justices individually at the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Padre Faura Street corner Taft Avenue,Ermita 1000, Manila. Send a copy of the letter to Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno to Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero Family c/o UCCP North-East Southern Tagalog Conference, UP Los Baños, Los Baños, Laguna.
Hon Reynato S. Puno, Chief of Justice
Hon. Arturo Brion, Associate Justice
Hon. Ruben T. Reyes, Associate Justice
Hon. Antonio Nachura, Associate Justice
Hon. Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Associate Justice
Hon. Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Associate Justice
Hon. Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Associate Justice
Hon. Antonio T. Carpio, Associate Justice
Hon. Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, Associate Justice
Hon. Renato C. Corona, Associate Justice
Hon. Conchita Carpio-Morales, Associate Justice
Hon. Romeo J. Callejo, Sr. Associate Justice
Hon. Adolfo S. Azcuna, Associate Justice
Hon. Dante O. Tinga, Associate Justice
Hon. Minita Chico-Nazario, Associate Justice
Hon. Cancio C. Garcia, Associate Justice
Hon. Teresita De Castro, Associate Justice
To the Honorable Justices of the Supreme Court of the Philippines:
On May 27, 2007 Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero was abducted in front of his wife and children as they traveled home from the local church where he was a pastor in Malaban, Biñan, Laguna. After heavy torture and interrogation completely unrelated to the charge against him, Pastor Berlin has now spent one year and (insert #) weeks in prison on a trumped-up charge of murder.
We appeal for a speedy resolution of the case of Pastor Berlin Guerrero. We know that Pastor Berlin continues his pastoral ministry within the Cavite Provincial Jail, and we are certain that he is detained for political rather than criminal reasons. We urge you to prioritize this case as testament to the pursuit of justice and democracy in the Philippines.
Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero is one amongst many Filipinos who have been abducted, tortured, disappeared and killed under the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Administration. We enjoin your efforts to bring justice to the many victims of Human Rights Violations. Our prayers are with you as you are challenged to address these injustices. We join this appeal for a speedy resolution of the case of Pastor Berlin as we also join in the efforts to bring peace based on justice to the Filipino people.
Sincerely yours,
(Your name)
And the following Letter to the Solicitor General:
Hon. Agnes VST Devanadera
Solicitor General, Republic of the Philippines
134 Amorsolo St. Legaspi Village, Makati City
Dear Hon. Agnes VST Devanadera:
We appeal for your support for the speedy resolution of the case of Pastor Berlin V. Guerrero, now pending with the Supreme Court. We are certain that Pastor Berlin has had nothing to do with the murder of which he has been accused. As a servant of the people of the Philippines, we appeal to your better wisdom toward justice for you to allow the release Pastor Berlin Guerrero who has already been detained for more than (insert #) weeks. The release of Pastor Berlin will be step toward peace and democracy in the Philippines.
Sincerely yours,
(Your name)