Davao-based nuns accused the military Saturday of "persecuting" Church people for their work with the poor and for the environment, an online news site reported.
Mindanao Daily Mirror (
www.dailymirror.ph) reported the Sisters Association of Mindanao (Samin) questioned the arrest of St. Stella Matutina and three environment advocates last February 16.
"They have committed no crimes, they have committed no acts that make them deserve detention and being suspected as rebels. Sr. Stella and her companions were in Taytayan on the invitation of local officials to talk on environmental awareness and protection," the statement said.
Samin said the Army's 67th Infantry Battalion arrested Matutina, of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters, and advocates Maria Fe Matibo, Wenceslao Mapa, and Gil Sentinales in the barangay hall of Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental.
It questioned the claim of 67th IB officials that they failed to coordinate with it before holding the forum.
"They have conveyed a 'veiled threat' to Sr. Stella that she should have rather stayed in the convent than work in a 'critical' area where NPAs thrive. They have raised the specter of 'fake nuns' roaming the rural areas 'to organise the people and turn them against the government,'" the statement said.
Samin said the military's "disturbingly show that in the communities, the military rules over the people."
"It is a culture that has remained with the military since Martial Law. It is a culture that disturbs the peace of the community and tramples upon the rights of individuals. It is a culture that does not tolerate freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom to organise, and for us religious, the freedom to evangelise. It is a culture too that looks at people who serve the poor, marginalised and oppressed with suspicion, derision, and hatred. It is a culture that currently takes the form of Oplan Bantay Laya 2," it added.
Also, Samin said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) "is sending out the chilling message that no religious can disrupt their plans of protecting the interests of logging, mining, and big business interests."
"When shepherds of the flock are themselves the ones under attack, the wolves scatter the flock and make them easy prey. Yes, if they could do it with impunity to Sr. Stella and environmental advocates, they care less about violating the rights of ordinary Filipinos," the statement said.
"We are afraid that Sr. Stella's case is another example of the Arroyo government's tacit approval of state-sponsored human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and displacements. Amidst this state of oppression, we remain steadfast to fulfill the mission of the Church which is to assert the dignity and rights of people and the integrity of Creation. We carry this task to care for the environment as "a matter of common and universal duty," it added.
December 23rd 2017, 4:01 pm by James307
Subject: Environment advocate na Madre ikinulong! 
hihimatayin ako sa mga kaganapan na ito... hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit akong isang napaka-ordinaryong tao eh ikinulong rin ng walang paliwanag kung bakit... hay bhay nga naman...
