United Methodist Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco gave sanctuary to 1000s after a peaceful demonstration turned deadly.
KATHY L. GILBERT
United Methodist News Service
On April 1, 2016, a desperate situation turned deadly when the Philippines government security forces fired on a peaceful demonstration of 5,000 farmers who were asking for rice.
The hungry people got bullets from the government, but were offered compassion and shelter by Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco and other United Methodists of Spottswood Methodist Mission Center.
The bishop’s decision to offer sanctuary to the starving families put him in danger and he was threatened with arrest.
He was defiant in the face of criticism and danger.
“It is never a sin when poor farmers demand food, but it is a sin to deny them food,” he said in April.
The protesters were blocking Quezon Boulevard, a major road that runs in front of the United Methodist center. The Spottswood Methodist Mission Center, in Kidapawan City, in Mindanao, Philippines, is home of the episcopal offices of the Davao Episcopal Area.
When the violence broke out, protesters poured into the Methodist center and the compound was surrounded by police.
The violent dispersal left three dead, 18 severely injured, close to a 100 wounded and scores missing. The center sheltered thousands of women, men and children for three days.
The province of Cotabato, where the farmers live, was under a “state of calamity” due to El Nino phenomenon, a weather condition that left crops destroyed. When a state of calamity is declared, funds should be released to the farmers, said Francisco.
The indigenous farmers, including Lumads, were starving and were asking for 15,000 sacks of rice.
“The farmers gathered for three days in front of the National Food Authority warehouse hoping the governor (Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza) would listen to their cries,” Francisco said. “But her heart was callous and she did not listen.”
Francisco testified before two senate hearings about the incident. He spoke of the ministry of The United Methodist Church in offering sanctuary to all people whose lives were in danger and in need of a place of refuge.
He testified that police blocked church members from entering or leaving the church and held up food donations.
No charges were filed against the bishop or the church, however the governor was suspended, the ground commander was relieved of his duties, and another military officer who was inside the church grounds was transferred.
Many of the farmers were persecuted and arrested, but they have filed charges and their cases are pending, Francisco said.
Risk-taking mission
“It is risk-taking mission and service when you support the farmers,” Francisco said. “Your ministry doesn’t end in the street, but you are with them to defend them and support them when their lives are in danger. You are with them in their struggles because they are helpless, hopeless and powerless.”
Among the protesting farmers were Lumads, indigenous people who have been the victims of genocide and human rights violations for many years.
A small group of Lumads attended the 2016 United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking assembly, in Portland, Oregon, just a month after the incident in the Philippines.
“They were compelled to protest because everyone was starving, especially the children,” said Capuyan. Norma Capuyan, chair of an indigenous group advocating for the farmers, said whole families were part of the protest.
“Children are hunting for rats. At night, mothers gather stones from the water and boil them as soup for their crying children. The stone tastes a little like fish and it makes the children comfortable enough to sleep.”
Because of overwhelming support from people all over the country, the farmers did receive rice from non-government organizations, private individuals and religious organizations, Francisco said. Some local government units released their calamity funds to support the farmers.
Francisco said the farmers have planted corn, rice and vegetables.
“What they need is continuous support of the government to afford agricultural inputs, irrigation and machineries to make their farming productive,” he said.
Bringing good news
Francisco was elected to the episcopacy in 2012 and re-elected on Dec. 2, 2016. He currently serves in the Davao Area.
Challenges in the Davao Area during the past four years included responding to two major typhoons, including Typhoon Haiyan; a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol; a bombing in the night market in Davao City and other acts of political violence, including the Kidapawan massacre in front of Spottswood Methodist Mission Center.
Francisco uses Luke 4:18-19 to urge United Methodists everywhere to speak the truth when they see injustices done to the poor and marginalized.
“Let us live to the standard of ministry set by Jesus. This is the call to every United Methodist.”
Last Updated on November 1, 2022