MANILA, August 14, 2013— Members of the Association of Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) have banded together to call for justice for those killed in the spate of bombings in Mindanao.
In a statement, the influential group of religious men and women urged the authorities “to act swiftly on these cases that have caused panic and fear” to the people.
“We call for justice to be served to all innocent victims,” the statement, signed by AMRSP co-chairpersons Fr. Leo Dalmao, CMF, and Sr. Eden Panganiban, SSpS, read.
“We challenge all stakeholders of peace in Mindanao to stand together so that acts of cowardice will never reign over the Land of Promise—Mindanao,” it added.
The AMRSP also expressed solidarity with the people of Mindanao “in these very difficult times” caused by the recent bomb attacks in Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro City, Maguindanao and North Cotabato.
“We join the entire nation in extending our deepest sorrow and sympathy to the victims of these senseless killing and their families,” the AMRSP said.
“We express our deepest concern for the safety of all Mindanawons and we denounce the heartlessness of the perpetrators,” it said.
They also said that the images of innocent civilians being killed give them a sense of the government’s “inability” to protect its own people from the “ruthlessness of the few.”
“We are shocked that lives can be taken away easily, anytime, and anywhere by those who want to continue sowing terror and fear among the people,” the group added.
“We enjoin all armed groups and warring factions in Mindanao to please spare innocent civilians from their whims of violent means, and to sit down with government and all stakeholders for dialogue and shun the use of ruthlessness to forward their belief and ideologies,” it said. (CBCPNews)
