2 May 2021
So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous—therefore judgment comes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:4)
The Promotion of Church People’s Response urges the Duterte government to release UCCP Pastor Daniel “Dan” Balucio immediately.
Pastor Dan is a known community leader, humanitarian response coordinator, rights defender and social activist. He is the Secretary General of the Bagong Alyansa Makabayan-Bicol. As a Church leader, Pastor Dan is also the coordinator of Andurog Mayon, an Ecumenical Disaster Response and Management Committee of the Bicol Region Ecumenical Committee (BREC) in Albay Province and is currently engaged in humanitarian response in communities affected by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses.
At around 3:30am, this morning, May 2, 2021, Pastor Dan and those in his home in San Isidro, Santo Domingo, Albay, were awakened by a raiding team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from Camp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City. A search warrant issued by Judge Edgar Armes (Presiding Judge of Branch 4, Regional Trial Court, 5th Judicial Region, Legazpi City) was used to raid Pastor Dan’s home and take him into custody.
During the incident, Pastor Dan’s family and National Council of Churches in the Philippines staff Almond del Rosario were commanded to lie face down. Shortly thereafter, ‘firearms and explosives’ were alleged to have been found.
We are gravely concerned for the safety and welfare of Pastor Dan, who is being held in Santo Domingo Municipal Jail. This fraudulent modus operandi of planting evidence against rights defenders and activists in the Philippines was already exposed in the arrest of journalist Lady Ann Salem on December 10, 2020 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. We urge the courts to dismiss any charges against Pastor Dan and release him. Fabricating and planting of evidence must not be tolerated.
Stop the attacks on activists! Defend the defenders!
Drop any and all fabricated charges against Pastor Dan Balucio and release him immediately!
Reference:
Father Rolly de Leon and Rev. Mary Grace Masegman
Co-Chairpersons
Promotion of Church People’s Response
