A Tribute to Alberto Ramento, Bishop of the Poor and the Oppressed
by Rey Ty Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 at 9:03 PM
Northern Illinois University, USA

A Tribute to Alberto Ramento, Bishop of the Poor and the Oppressed by Rey Ty

It is with great shock and sadness that I read news of the death of Bishop Alberto Ramento due to stabbing. Through the National Council of Churches of the Philippines (NCCP), I have worked closely with Bishop Ramento. Over the years, we have traveled all around the Philippines, amidst the reality of repression and human rights abuses, in our efforts to educate the church people and the general public about human rights and to work for just peace. We have also observed and conducted field interviews on the human rights conditions of the working people and marginalized sectors of society in Pakistan and South Korea. Bishop Ramento fearlessly spoke against social injustice and oppression everywhere he saw them.

Although news reports indicate that the true circumstances of his death are unknown, political killing cannot be ruled out. The Asian Human Rights Commission reported that: "However, Bishop's family and his fellow clergy believe that his murder was methodically planned and politically motivated. Bishop Ramento had reportedly received several death threats before his killing and told his family, 'I know they are going to kill me next. But never will I abandon my duty to god and my ministry to the people.'" Many progressive church people give up their lives in the struggle for the emancipation of Philippine society from the shackles of oppression.

Peace-loving Filipinos who work for social justice will continue Bishop Ramento's tireless work for social transformation and the liberation of the oppressed and toiling masses of the Filipino people.

I pay my final tribute to my friend, colleague, and co-educator, Bishop Ramento. I convey my most heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Bishop Ramento did not pass away in vain. We will always remember the sacrifices he has made. He is our inspiration to continue our work in the service of the suffering Filipino people composed of peasants, workers, indigenous peoples and the rest of the oppressed and marginalized sectors of Filipino society. Truly, Bishop Ramento was the Bishop for the oppressed and the poor. The memory of his service to the people lives on. We continue our struggle for genuine national and social liberation!


Rey Ty
Northern Illinois University
U.S.A.
reyty1@gmail.com

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