Church worker slapped with ‘fabricated’ charges
“The arrest of Agnes was meant to sow fear among the people in the
attempt to plunder the rich mineral resources and displace
resisting communities for large-scale mining operations. “ – Rural
Missionaries of the Philippines
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – An advocate against large-scale destructive mining was detained and charged with common crimes.
Agnes Mesina, 40, a lay worker of the Rural Missionaries of the
Philippines (RMP) – Cagayan Valley, was arrested July 4 at a coffee shop
in Tuguegarao City by elements of the Philippine National Police Region
(PNP) 2 together with the Tuguegarao City PNP. The arrest took place in
the presence of ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio who, at that
time, was meeting with Mesina along with organizers of the local
chapter of ACT Teachers Party-List. They had just come from a
consultation with public school teachers.
Mesina has been charged with frustrated murder of a certain Ernesto
Belen, a barangay captain of Luga, Sta. Teresita, Cagayan. She was
detained overnight at the Tuguegarao City police station and was
transferred to the Aparri Trial Court the next day. She was released
after posting bail amounting to P20,000.
“We believe that the action is devious and related to her public
advocacy of people’s rights against mining operations and other
developmental projects that destroy the environment and sources of
livelihood of peasant folk in Cagayan Valley. In the past months, she
helped form alliances of church people, farmers, youth, and
professionals to intensify people’s anti-mining advocacy and campaigns
in the region that prick the consciences of (the) powers that be,”
leaders of various Church denominations said in a joint statement.
Sr. Minela Alvarez of the Religious of the Good Shepherd in Isabela,
Fr. Clarence Olat of the Episcopal Diocese of Santiago, Fr. Roderick
Labog of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente-Diocese of Isabela, Fr.
Candido Adriano, CssR of the Task Force dor the Orientation of Church
Personnel
Mission and Fr. Charly Ricafort, MI of the Task Force for Urban
Conscientization signed the statement condemning the arrest of Mesina.
The last two Church groups are mission partners of the Association of
Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP).
Sr.M. Francis Añover,RSM, RMP national coordinator, described Mesina
as a “trusted” lay co-worker of Sister Mela Alvarez, RGS, the
RMP-Cagayan Valley coordinator..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/07/11/church-worker-slapped-with-%E2%80%98fabricated%E2%80%99-charges/
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