Date: July 16, 2013 To: The President of the Philippines, Secretary 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, the Media, and the Ateneo Community

Buklod Atenistas Individual Efforts and Condemnation about Zamboanga Citys Culture of Violence and Impunity
Our communities have been destroyed by violence. This violence has been destroying the lives, dignities and hopes of citizensthen paralyzing and polarizing our communities. Our social fabric is being torn apart by a culture of violence that leaves children dead on our streets and families afraid in our homes. This is the society that we live in - a society that seems to be growing numb to human loss and suffering. On June 22, 2013, Justin Raphael Wee 1, 22 year-old, was gunned down and shot in the face. While the Bansil sisters2, Nadjoua, 39, and Linda, 36, were abducted in Sulu while making a documentary film. Both incidents happened in one day and until now, the sisters are being held in captive. In Zamboanga City, where the cases are about 250 3 extra-judicial killings and forced disappearances, the El Consejo Atenista of Ateneo de Zamboanga University clamours for justice, especially for Justin Raphael Wee. Citizens there are manifesting grave disapproval of their local police force, claiming that these enforcers of peace are lax and ineffective in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Much to note,

1 2

http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/top-stories/14349-murder-of-ateneo-alumnus-unabated-killings-in-zambo-city-trigger-rally.html http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/441643/islamic-scholars-call-for-release-of-bansil-sisters-from-abu-sayyaf 3 http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/32934-cases-unresolved-killings-zamboanga-city

Justins death was tragic and deplorable, but so are the murders of many others like him, whose cases have mostly gone unsolved. The prevalence violence truly has caused rupture to the grounds of Zamboanga City. We are in one with El Consejos call 4 for Peace and Order in the city. Their call for a speedy, effective and moral enforcement of peace is underscored and supported upon. We see that such is not, and will never be, an isolated case. As seen in the chart 5 of Incidents/Victims of Extra Judicial Killing dated August 15 2010, even in Regions III, V and VIII, cases of forced disappearances and killings are rampant.

4 5

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200256206749885&set=a.3272304608519.2130994.1294508519&type=1&relevant _count=1 http://www.iponphilippines.info/fileadmin/user_upload/Observers/Observer_Vol.2_Nr.2/Observer_V ol.2_Nr.2_PoliticalKillings_4.pdf

Violence especially in Zamboanga City calls for attention and action from the various sectors of our society, most especially from the local police force, and from the Philippine Government. Through unity and solidarity, the Ateneo Schools are doing their share of responsibility to heighten awareness and to condemn such acts. Through localizing the issue o n Zamboangas Peace Campaigns, we firmly create ripples of change, such that we will duly represent the sentiments of the victims of such violence around the regions in the Philippines. In Ateneo de Davao University, though the SAMAHAN Central Board, several activities were done to raise awareness about the issue. Black Ribbons were given to students as a sign of their support to the #PrayForZamboanga Movement. The SAMAHAN Creative Team and the Ateneo

Photographers Society conducted the 100 Faces for th e

Ateneo de Davao University Candle Lighting Activity

Restoration of Peace and Order in Zamboanga. A Candle with Amnesty and

Lighting

activity

in

partnership and

International,

Atenews,

other

Clubs

Organizations was held. Along with those efforts, a week-long mass was held to pray for the lost souls, and for Zamboanga. In Ateneo de Manila University, through the efforts of Sanggunian, Infographics and Promotional Videos were disseminated, and a prayer vigil will be
Ateneo de Manila University Prayer Vigil and Mass Offering

conducted on school grounds on a particular day in July. They are also sending letters to different schools, departments and officers to garner more support in promoting awareness and events. And to show their solidarity, they were encouraged to wear black as a call for Peace in Zamboanga. Meanwhile, in Ateneo de Naga University, the Supreme Student Government has already released promotional materials online and on campus. They also had a university memorandum from the Office of the Buklod Ambassador that was published last June 26, 2013. Since June 27, the #PrayForZamboanga Movement has been implemented. The Ateneo de Naga Community wore black and attended the mass offered for the aforementioned. They also had signature campaigns last July 8, 2013, calling for the speedy action
Ateneo de Naga University Information Dissemination Drive

of the government about the matter.

Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan, through Central Student Government, is taking initial steps by coordinating with their United Religious Organizations as they push for awareness campaigns. Their community wore black to express their grievances. Furthermore, they conducted a rosary walk for the peace and order situation in Zamboanga and for the liberation of the Bansil sisters. The other religious organizations also had similar efforts as well.
Ateneo de Cagayan University Prayer Walk and Candle Lighting Activity

Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) El Consejo Atenista had a prayer rally for Justine Wee and a mass offered for the prayers on the killings and kidnappings. A day of wearing black, signifying their sympathy on the recent events, also took place. They also had a general assembly to talk about the kidnapping of Bansil sisters and about the killings. They initiated the signature campaigns in support to the stand they crafted
Ateneo de Zamboanga University Black Wash Day

regarding the issue. On July 06, they planned to have a sit-in dialogue with the City officials to talk about issues regarding this, which was attended by different sectors including the AdZU and the student government. Our individual efforts, consequently, reflect our utmost concern to the recent happening and manifestation of violence here in our country. The death and the captivity of the victims represent th e few yet significant citizens who are supposed to savor the right to life and liberty vested in our Constitution. They are supposed to be defended by the state. They are supposed to be safe. Therefore, we unanimously call for the condemnation of violence that has long been underrated. We but emphasize that the success of this endeavour will depend essentially on the firm resolve of the Philippine Government. Our prayers are for Zamboanga and for the Philippines.
Nothing follows

Prepared by,

PETER PAUL PARAS (Sgd.) Secretary-General Buklod Atenista

Noted by,

IVY JANE TORREGOSA (Sgd.) Ambassador Ateneo de Davao University

RAY CRISTOFER GOMEZ (Sgd.) Ambassador Ateneo de Manila University

RENZO ENRICO BLANCO ( Sgd.) Ambassador Ateneo de Naga University

ROMMEL REGOR ONG (Sgd.) Ambassador Ateneo de Zamboanga University

ALBERT WENCES DABA III ( Sgd.) Ambassador Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan