Metro Infanta Foundation

By Delfin Mallari Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Last updated 06:41am (Mla time) 03/23/2007
Used with permission

LUCENA CITY—Catholic Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, head of the Prelature of Infanta, has called on government forces and communist New People’s Army rebels operating in northern Quezon to respect the Zone of Peace declared by the local government units of Infanta, Real and General Nakar towns and different sectoral groups three years ago.

In a pastoral letter to be read in all Catholic churches in northern Quezon this Sunday, Tirona is appealing to armed protagonists to respect human lives.

“Don’t kill. Life is sacred. It is God’s gift to us,” Tirona said in the letter written in Filipino, a copy of which was sent to the Inquirer by Fr. Pete Montallana, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples’ Apostolate in the Prelature of Infanta and director of the Tribal Center for Development.

Tirona cited the killing of one Alex Ditchoso, a former NPA rebel-turned-government militiaman, by still unidentified suspects last month in the village of San Marcelino, General Nakar.

Reports said the victim was being used by the military in identifying allies of communist rebels in the area.

Tirona also recalled the unsolved slaying of siblings Marilou Sanchez and Virgilio Rubio in the same town last year.

The bishop said the two victims, both members of the militant Bayan Muna, had helped distribute relief goods to typhoon victims in northern Quezon before they were killed by still unidentified assailants.

“During this Lenten season, God is asking every one of us to remember Jesus Christ. He is in the image of our brothers, especially those deprived of justice and peace,” the bishop said in a portion of his pastoral letter.

Respect for the zone of peace, according to Tirona, was also the appeal of local governments, the Church, people and non-government organizations.

The bishop said respect for human rights has been embodied in the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law signed by government representatives and the communist-led National Democratic Front.

“Fear and tension are again beginning to envelop northern Quezon. The Church and all peace-loving people should embrace together and push for the armed groups to respect the zone of peace,” Montallana said over the phone.

Several months ago, propaganda materials labeling Montallana a communist circulated in the towns of Infanta and General Nakar.

According to Montallana, the propaganda materials were signed by the National Alliance for Democracy, an ultra rightist group that allegedly serves as an anti-communist propagandist for the military.

But he just shrugged off the threat and vowed to continue his mission with the Agta tribe and his environmental advocacy.