The culprits are no other than the fascist executioners under the Armed Forces of the Philippines operating in Arakan, North Cotabato. Fr. Pops is the 54th victim of the US-Aquino administration’s counter-insurgency program – the Oplan Bayanihan

By Kabataang Makabayan - Southern Mindanao
(KM, Patriotic Youth Southern Mindanao Chapter)

Land for the tillers. This is the principle of Fr. Fausto Tentorio, fondly called Fr. Pops by the people he selflessly served. In his three decades of missionary work in the Philippines, he was able to establish various programs on education, health and other social services for the Lumads and the peasants in Arakan, Valley, North Cotabato.

Fr. Pops was consistent and steadfast in serving the Lumads in Arakan. He had helped put up 80 day care centers reaching municipalities of Tulunan, Antipas, Makilala, Mlang and the rest of North Cotabato. Most of the students are Lumads and peasants.

In actively helping the Lumads and the peasants, Fr. Pops did not only give support to them, he gave them education and helped them voice out their continuing struggle for their ancestral domain. He is clearly a threat and an enemy to the eyes of the reactionary government and its Armed Forces as he stood firmly in opposition of the state’s anti-people programs and policies.

After continued harassments and countless threats to his life as consequences of his undying advocacies for the Lumads, peasants and progressive groups, Fr. Pops was killed last 17 October. The culprits were no other than the fascist executioners under the Armed Forces of the Philippines operating in Arakan, North Cotabato. Fr. Pops is the 54th victim of the US-Aquino administration’s counter-insurgency program – the Oplan Bayanihan that continues to target those critical to the government including church leaders like Fr. Pops.

Fr. Pop’s three decades of unwavering struggle for the rights of the oppressed was finished with only ten bullets of the fascist military agents.

Let this brutal killing remind us of the life he has offered to the masses. In the same way that we are reminded of the life and struggle of another internationalist Norman Bethune, a Canadian physician who served the Chinese in the course of their revolution. Bethune was a member of the Communist Party of the United States of America. He was not discouraged by the long distance of stride just to help in the defensive war against Imperial Japan. Bethune died a martyr serving the Chinese people.

The spirit of Norman Bethune is the life that Fr. Pops showed us -- a life of an internationalist with a selfless and wholehearted service to the people and their struggle for genuine democracy and liberation.

The life that Fr. Pops offered to the indigenous peoples and Filipino peasants challenges the church people and the youth today. An Italian missionary never doubted to serve the Filipino masses. The church people’s active engagement in the struggle of the oppressed is the living legacy of Fr. Pops.

Service to God does not end within the walls of the churches. Service to God involves a commitment in serving, loving and upholding the rights and welfare of the least of His people.

The spirit of internationalism showed by Fr. Pops is worthy of emulation. Kabataang Makabayan will strengthen the call to serve the people, to take on the highest form of serving the oppressed -- to join the New People’s Army!

Justice for Fr. Pops!
Youth, serve the people! Join the New People’s Army!

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