ba zamboanga stand

7/28/2019 BA Zamboanga Stand

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BUKLOD ATENISTA

Date: July 15, 2013

To: The President of the Philippines, Secretaries of the Interior and Local Government,the Senate, Chief of Philippine National Police, the Local Governments, City Mayors(especially of Zamboanga City), the City Council, and the Ateneo Community

Buklod Atenista’s Individual Efforts and Condemnation AboutZamboanga City’s Culture of Violence and Impunity

Our communities are destroyed by violence. This violence has been destroying lives,dignity and hopes of citizens—then paralyzing and polarizing our communities. Our sociafabric is being torn apart by a culture of violence that leaves children dead on our streetsand families afraid in our homes. Our society seems to be growing numb to human lossand suffering.

Justin Raphael Wee1, a Zamboangeno, 22 years old, was gunned down and shot in theface. He died shortly after. Nadjoua, 39, and Linda, 36, were the Bansil sisters2 who wereabducted in Sulu. They were doing a documentary film. Until now, the sisters are beingheld in captive. Both incidents were on June 22, 2013.

The death and the captivity of these victims of violence represent the few yet significant

citizens who are supposed to savor the ‘right to life and liberty’ vested in ourConstitution. They are considerable samples that the government must include in whenthey do protection and security measures. They are supposed to be defended by thestate. They are supposed to be safe.

In Zamboanga City, where the cases are about 2503, extra-judicial killings and forceddisappearances, the El Consejo Atenista of Ateneo de Zamboanga University clamoursfor justice, especially for Justin Raphael Wee. Citizens there are manifesting gravedisapproval of their local police force, claiming that these enforcers of peace are lax andineffective in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Much to note, Justin’s death was tragicand deplorable. But so are the murders of many others like him, whose cases have

mostly gone unsolved. Violence truly has caused rupture to the grounds of the Asia’sLatin City.

1 http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/14349-murder-of-ateneo-alumnus-unabated-killings-in-zambo-city-trigger-rally.html2 http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/441643/islamic-scholars-call-for-release-of-bansil-sisters-from-abu-sayyaf 3 Unconfirmed

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The alliance of student governments of Jesuit tertiary schools in the Philippines( EST. since 1983 )



BUKLOD ATENISTA

We are but in one with El Consejo’s call for Peace and Order in Zamboanga City4. Theircall for a speedy, effective and moral enforcement of peace is underscored andsupported upon. But we as well see that such is not, and will never be, an isolated case

As seen in the chart below5

, even in Regions III, V and VIII, where cases were high,citizens for sure are alarmed and probably unsecured. Victims, whether with criminarecords or otherwise, deserve the due process that the State affords to.

Violence like this calls for an attention and more action from the various sectors of oursociety, most especially to the local police force, and the Philippine Government per se.

Meanwhile, the Ateneo Schools are doing their share of responsibility to heightenawareness and condemn such acts. Through localizing the issue on Zamboanga’s PeaceCampaigns, we firmly create ripples of change, such that we will duly represent thesentiments of the victims of such violence around the regions in the Philippines.

In Ateneo de Davao University, through the SAMAHAN

Central Board- the aforesaid issue is now being publicizedBlack Ribbons were given to students as a sign of their

4https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200256206749885&set=a.3272304608519.2130994.1294508519&type=1&relevant_count=15http://www.iponphilippines.info/fileadmin/user_upload/Observers/Observer_Vol.2_Nr.2/Observer_Vol.2_Nr.2

_PoliticalKillings_4.pdf

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Ateneo de Davao University –

Candle Lighting Activity



BUKLOD ATENISTA

support to the #PrayForZamboanga Movement. The Creative Team and the AteneoPhotographer’s Society are doing the 100 Faces for the Restoration of Peace and Orderin Zamboanga. A week-long mass is also being done. On July 8, 2013, they will be having

a Candle Lighting in partnership with Amnesty International, Atenews, and other Clubsand Organizations in Ateneo de Davao.

In Ateneo de Manila University, throughSanggunian, Infographics and PromotionalVideos are being disseminated since the 30thof June. A prayer vigil will be conducted onschool grounds on a particular day in July.Letters are being sent to different schools,departments and officers to garner more

support in promoting awareness and events aswell. They are to wear black to show solidarityin the call for Peace in Zamboanga.

Meanwhile, Ateneo de Naga University,through the Supreme Student Government,already released promotional material onlineand on campus. A University Memorandum from the Office of the Buklod Ambassadorwas also published last June 26. Since June 27, the #PrayForZamboanga Movement isbeing implemented. The Ateneo de Naga Community wore black and attended the mass

offered for the aforementioned. They will also do signature campaigns on July 8, callingfor the speedy action of the government about the matter.

Ateneo de ZamboangaUniversity El Consejo has hadprayer rallies and masses. A dayof wearing black, signifying theirprayers, also began. Theyinitiated the signaturecampaigns and crafted their

stand about the issue. Sometimethis week, they will be going to

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Ateneo de Manila University – Prayer Vigil

and Mass Offering



BUKLOD ATENISTA

the Sangguniang Panlungsod to have a silent sit in demonstration of their protest againstthe Violence in Zamboanga.

Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan, through Central Student Government, is takinginitial steps by coordinating with their United Religious Organizations as they push for an

awareness campaigns. Their communitywore black to express their grievancesFurthermore, they will conduct a rosarywalk for the peace and order situation inZamboanga and for the liberation of the

Bansil sisters. The other religious organizations are having similar efforts as well.

Our individual efforts, consequently, reflect ourutmost concern to the recent happening andmanifestation of violence here in our country.

Therefore, we unanimously call for thecondemnation of violence that has long beenunderrated. We but emphasize that the successof thisendeavour willdependessentially onthe firm resolve of the Philippine Government.

Our prayers for Zamboanga City, and to the Philippines.

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neo de Naga University – Information Dissemination

(Left) ; Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan

University – Black Wash Day (Right)

Ateneo de Zamboanga University –

Wash Day



BUKLOD ATENISTA

Prepared by,

PETER PAUL PARAS (Sgd.)

Secretary-General

Buklod Atenista

Noted by,

IVY JANE TORREGOSA (Sgd.) RAY CRISTOFER C. GOMEZ (Sgd.) RENZO ENRICOBLANCO (Sgd.)

Ambassador Ambassador Ambassador

Ateneo de Davao University Ateneo de Manila University Ateneo de Naga University

ROMMEL REGOR ONG (Sgd.) ALBERT WENCES DABA III (Sgd.)

Ambassador Ambassador

Ateneo de Zamboanga University Xavier University – Ateneo deCagayan

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