‘Let us not succumb to rule of guns and bullets’

The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the 44 members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) and the 16 members of the Moro communities who lost their lives in Mamasapano, Maguindano, during a tragic clash in the morning of Jan. 25, 2015. From our biblical perspective, all lives are created in the image of God and are inherently and equally valuable in His eyes. Though we sincerely cry with those who lost their loved ones, our words would not be enough to describe their deepest pain and suffering.

We look at this traumatic event through the lenses of truth and mercy as well as of justice and peace (Psalm 85:10). With these biblical values, we hope to express a balanced perspective of this sad reality before us.

We seek the truth. We appreciate the fact that both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have committed to conduct their respective investigation to establish the facts. We expect transparency on the basic facts—what, where, when, who, why, how. We also call on civil societies, the religious bodies, the business sector, and all other peace-loving organizations to help conduct a joint fact-finding mission independent from the ones being done by the government and the MILF.

We call for mercy. Violence makes us angry. When we are violated, we naturally want to get even. We are tempted to see human society as “us” versus “them” in a perpetual adversarial relationship. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to transform adversarial relationships into reconciling relationships. This is done through loving God and loving our neighbors, even loving our enemies. This kind of love looks at the “other” who violated us with mercy—and withholds punishment despite the fact that such punishment is deserved. Mercy is not a suggestion to those who follow Jesus but a calling in this violent world. Mercy is our mandate and mission as the Body of Christ.

We demand justice. We cry and shout justice for all who died in this armed encounter. Based on established facts and under the rule of law, those responsible for these violent deaths must be brought to justice. All those responsible—from the official who planned and sanctioned this operation, to the personnel on the ground who pulled the trigger, whether they are from the government side or the MILF side—must be brought to justice. May the God of justice prevail over the forces of injustice!

We pursue peace. As a church council, we laud the determination of both the government and the MILF to continue the peace process in Mindanao. We call on the Congress to finish the process of public consultations until the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is passed. We must advance the rule of law. We must not succumb to the rule of guns and bullets. We affirm the wise counsel of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, who urges us to “contribute to our nation’s search for just and lasting peace by encouraging all parties to bring any conflict to the table of peace instead of the battlefields of war. Let us not add to the darkness, but to the light. It is the only way that we ensure that the sacrifices of our fallen policemen would not be in vain.”

May God’s love embrace us so we can embrace others. May the peace of Christ rule our hearts and our country. May the comfort of the Holy Spirit energize us as we pursue peace in our land.

Bishop Noel A. Pantoja, Bishop Efraim M. Tendero and Bishop Cesar V. Punzalan III are the national director-designate, national director and board chair of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, respectively.