United Church of Christ in the Philippines–Pikit Condemns Church Bombing

The United Church of Christ in the Philippines condemns the bombing of one of its local churches in Mindanao.

We condemn in the strongest term the bombing of one of our local churches in Mindanao. According to reports gathered so far, two men riding in tandem on a motorcycle fired an M203 grenade inside the UCCP Pikit in Pikit, Cotabato while the midweek service was going on. Two died in the bombing (Felomena Nacario-Ferolin and Gina Cabiluna), another one is critical (Virginia Manolid) and a number of church members wounded, among them Jeremias and Jerome Dandan.

No circumstance or reason can justify such deplorable act on a house of worship leading to the death and injury of worshippers.

We urge the authorities to act speedily in thoroughly investigating the incident to uncover the perpetrators and their motives for this dastardly act.

We ask our members to remain sober-minded yet vigilant. Even as we press for justice, let us not do anything that will further escalate the violence.

From the General Secretary,

Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza

Click here to view the Bishop’s prayer.

Take Action

Respond to human rights abuses in the Philippines
The Ecumenical Advocacy Network on the Philippines has been monitoring the human rights abused by security forces in the Philippines for the last 7 years. The U.S. government helps fund the Philippine army through the Foreign Military Financing section of our federal budget. As a condition of this funding the government of the Philippine’s is obligated to prosecute those responsible for extrajudicial killings and the forced disappearances of people, including clergy in the United Church of the Philippines who have been repeatedly threatened.

Take action – call on members of the Congressional State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittees to respond to these abuses by withholding all funding to the Philippine army until compliance can be shown.