May 13, 2005
Press Statement

Stop Killing Our Prophets!

Another martyr is felled by an assassin’s bullet. The National Council 
of 
Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) condemns in the strongest terms, the 
brutal slaying of REV. EDISON LAPUZ, Conference Minister of the United 
Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), leader of the Ecumenical 
Movement in Eastern Visayas, and officer of the Promotion of Church 
People’s 
Response (PCPR) on May 12, 2005, in San Isidro Leyte.

Rev. Lapuz was mourning the passing away of his father-in-law, who was 
just 
buried that day when he was murdered.

Our sisters and brothers in Eastern Viasayas have lost another pastor, 
a 
leader who was after God’s heart. His untiring work for peace was the 
mark 
of a true pastor. His undying love for the poor and oppressed was the 
seal 
that drove him to be in their midst. His humor and happy disposition 
was 
expressive of his deep longing that the people whom he served deserve 
happiness. His devotion to Christian unity was obedience to the Lord of 
unity. At the time of his death, he was coordinating a Mining 
Conference for 
Church people in Eastern Visayas. 

His advocacy apparently has earned the ire of people who want to crush 
the 
voices of legitimate dissent. Like Fr. William Tadena before him, Rev. 
Lapuz 
joins the list of Christian martyrs who have been killed because they 
decided to dedicate their lives in the defense of the powerless.

The brutal slay of Rev. Lapuz came a few weeks after an editorial in a 
major 
newspaper sounded the alarm on the increasing number of killings among 
activists. That editorial brought neither a word nor a peep from the 
President. The silence is disconcerting, to say the least.

The NCCP condoles with the family and friends of Rev. Lapuz. More 
importantly, the NCCP calls for justice for this most senseless death. 
We 
appeal to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to act and act swiftly in 
giving 
justice to Rev. Lapuz and other victims of summary killings before him. 
The 
NCCP has placed an appeal to its international partners to convince the 
Philippine government to put an end to this senselessness.

They have killed Rev. Lapuz’ body but they can never kill his soul.


MS. SHARON ROSE JOY RUIZ-DUREMDES
General Secretary - NCCP