Ka EFREN
Spokesperson, NDFP Far South MIndanao Region

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in the FarSouth Mindanao Region (NDFP-FSMR) salutes the people’s martyr Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio, who was mercilessly gunned down in his convent in Arakan on 17 October 2011. We pay our highest tribute to this quintessential progressive who served the people selflessly and wholeheartedly for the greater part of his adult life in the many remote places of Mindanao, in southern Philippines.

We are one with the farmers and lumads and the entire people of Mindanao in our grief for this person who laid down his life serving the poor and marginalized. In whatever way he can, for more than three decades, Fr Pops did everything he can to serve the poorest and most neglected communities. Through his literacy, health, peasant organizing and scholarship programs, he touched the lives of thousands of farmers and lumads. Most importantly he gave hope to so many by teaching them to stand up and fight for their rights.

Fr. Pops became the model of all those he worked with -- from his staff, to the community organizers, and mass leaders who constantly looked up to him for guidance and inspiration. He lived simply. His undaunted optimism and patently good humor helped to sustain all the programs he initiated even during the most trying times, including an attempt on his life in 2003 by lumad paramilitary fanatics under the employ of the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

His outstanding concern for the rural poor plus his advocacies for the environment and against large-scale mining and the encroachment of agribusiness plantations earned for Fr Pops the ire of the military who branded him as a supporter of the New People's Army and a Communist. He was constantly under (military) surveillance. As a matter of fact, his convent was raided by elements of the 68th Infantry Battalion sometime in 2006, which prodded him to file a complaint with the local government unit of Arakan.

Fr. Fausto Tentorio’s murder is the most recent of the state-sponsored extra judicial killings which have eroded and mocked the nation's justice system -- where military death squads roam the streets freely and are never made accountable for their acts. This at a time when the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) claims to “have respect for human rights and humanitarian laws” under Oplan Bayanihan. Hypocrisy adds insult to injury.

Fr. Pop’s untimely death strengthens our resolve to live and fight for the noble cause of peace, justice and freedom. The revolutionary movement shall not rest until justice is fully served and his death is vindicated.

The people will never forget you, Fr. Pops. You will always be our hope and inspiration in this long and protracted struggle for national democracy.

For the NDFP – FSMR,

Ka EFREN
Spokesperson