The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) condemns in strongest terms the attempted killing of Rev. Raul Domingo, a dedicated pastor of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and leader of the human rights group KARAPATAN in Palawan. In broad daylight (12:30 pm), Rev. Domingo was shot four times by two men riding in motorcycles last Saturday, August 20.

“We are outraged that the government’s assassins attempted against the life of another activist pastor despite the strong demand of Philippine churches and human rights groups as well as international human rights activists who joined the International Solidarity Mission (ISM) to stop the wave of killings of activists in the Philippines. We strongly denounce this attempted murder which is obviously another crime by state agents who consider the likes of Rev. Domingo as enemies of the state,” Rev. Sol Villalon, PCPR spokesperson stated.

Like Rev. Edison Lapuz and many victims, Rev. Domingo actively exposed and opposed the abuses of military, mining companies and destructive projects of the government against the poor peasants and national minorities in the provinces.

PCPR, which also hosted the International Solidarity Mission, declared support for GMA’s impeachment and ouster as it asserted that the replacement of Arroyo must work for just and lasting peace in the Philippines by upholding human rights, national sovereignty, genuine socio-economic progress and best interests of the Filipino people.

In a pastoral letter, the UCCP – Southern Luzon Jurisdiction Area (SLJA) headed by Bishop Eliezer Pascua, condemned the attack on Rev. Domingo. The UCCP-SLJ leaders lamented, “What happened to Rev. Domingo is similar to pattern of the brutal killing of Rev. Edison Lapuz, Joel Baclao, Vicente Olea, Isaias Manano Jr., Abe Songit, Fr. William Tadena and other peace activists among the church and grassroots people’s organizations.”

Reference: Rev. Sol Villalon
PCPR Spokesperson