Two years after the murder of Fr. Cecilio Lucero, justice has only become more elusive. Though a self-confessed killer surfaced and implicated a number of influential people, prosecutors dismissed the murder case for lack of substantial evidence. The case of Father Lucero is just one of the thousands of unresolved killings perpetrated in the climate of impunity plaguing our land. There is a suspected killer but no masterminds; and a police investigation can’t establish a probable cause.
Father Lucero was killed on Sept. 6, 2009 in broad daylight along Maharlika National Highway in Layuhan, San Jose, Northern Samar, in front of many people. At the time he was killed, he was the head of the Diocesan Human Rights Desk and a member of the Promotion of Church People’s Response. As pastor of the people, he was a dedicated human rights advocate. He led several fact-finding missions to look into human rights violations in the province, a number of which allegedly involved state security forces.
A month after Father Lucero’s killing, the National Fact Finding Mission (NFFM) tasked to look into his case disclosed that three days before his death, Father Lucero had a confrontation with elements of the 63rd Infantry Battalion over the alleged involvement of soldiers in the killing of farmers in Lope de Vega, Northern Samar. The NFFM also said that Father Lucero was listed as a member of the New People’s Army on the Order of Battle of the 803rd Brigade of the Philippine Army based in Camp Sumuroy, Northern Samaras. The NFFM also cited a number of human rights violations committed by state security forces in other parts of the province.
Unfortunately, PNP’s Task Force Lucero limited its investigation and report on the personal motive of the killing and disregarded any possibility that he might have been an extrajudicial killing victim under the counterinsurgency Oplan Bantay Laya.
After two years, Father Lucero’s case seems to be going the way of Bishop Alberto Ramento’s case. The Iglesia Filipinas Independiente bishop was stabbed to death and the local police ruled the incident as a case of theft and robbery resulting in homicide, disregarding vital pieces of evidence indicating that the killing was politically motivated.
A culture of impunity creates a tyrannical, undemocratic atmosphere. We challenge the Aquino administration to put an end to it and give justice to Father Lucero and all victims of human rights violations. We demand the speedy resolution of their cases and bring all those accountable before the bar of justice.
We strongly encourage the faith community to continue to journey with the victims (of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other forms of human rights violations) and their families in the search for justice. We implore church leaders to fulfill their prophetic mission in defense of life and dignity as prophet Micah (6:8) reminds us to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.
—NARDY SABINO,
secretary general,
Promotion of Church
People’s Response, pcprnatl@gmail.com