In Memoriam: Contemplating Truth, Justice and Healing

Jose Pepe Manegdeg III died nine years ago at the age of 37. A case of
extra-judicial killing in November 28, 2005 in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur,
Northern Luzon, Philippines. He was a member of the Rural Missionary of the
Philippines. Our thirst for truth, justice and healing remains wanting.
We were deeply hurt by the tragic death of a gentle father, brother,
son, friend, husband and colleague. We were together in dreaming for a
more equitable and peaceful society. The incomprehensible violence
certainly affected our lives in untold ways. We have mourned and grieved
our losses. We explored the causes and context of the tragedy. We endured
doubts as well as ridicule. We have come to accept our vulnerabilities and
constraints as we realize the truth. And, we choose to live in a journey of
peace and healing.
This journey has brought us to contemplate the junctions of justice,
healing and peacebuilding in our deeply wounded land. What do we
perceive as justice that creates healing? How are we contributing towards
the resolution of the case and the underlying conflicts that breed violence?
How are we moving forward in weaving tapestries that bring about a just and
peaceful world?
We recall that police investigations identified an army captain as the
assassin. Local, national and international campaigns for justice for the
hundreds of victims of extra-judicial killings during the nine-year rule of
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001-2010) were done. Our attempts to seek
redress through the present criminal justice system has not been
encouraging. It has also put even family members at risk. The lone witness
to the incident eventually retracted his statements after months of hiding
and the local prosecutor quickly declared him not a credible witness then
dismissed the case for lack of evidence. Subsequently, a special police body
tasked to investigate the extra-judicial killings considered the case closed
because the suspect has been exonerated by the court. And the case
remains cold and unresolved.
In the attempts to unravel the truth amidst calls to stop the killings,
varying views were offered. The Armed Forces of the Philippines denied the
existence of the identified army captain, and came up with a statement
blaming the death of Pepe upon his colleagues as a case of internal conflict.
Other reports accused Pepe as a member of an armed rebel group. Alas,
such statement and reports which only served to defend the cold-blooded

murder and evade accountability are simply untrue. The Commission on

Human Rights affirmed the arbitrary deprivation of life but could not proceed
further to rule on the guilt of the accused. Field investigation agents balked
at pursuing the case that implicated military forces for consideration of their
own personal safety. Some of his colleagues admitted negligence of security
measures having known that he was already being targeted, for it was truly
unfathomable that civilians and social activists that they are, were being
pursued with weapons of death.
The truth remains sealed in the labyrinth of secrets and myths.
We recognize that there is much to be desired in our present social
structures and justice system as well as in existing frameworks in the search
for sustainable and just peace. We need a system that facilitates truth telling
and considers sincere acts to rectify the wrongs as obligations towards the
restoration of human dignity.
We continually affirm and participate in social processes that restore
wholeness and uphold the integrity of life.
We share our personal and social experiences of violence and efforts to
transcend a tragic past, in the hope of arriving at a deeper understanding
and meaning of compassion, loving kindness and forgiveness in our human
community.
We are committed to harness our individual and collective efforts to
bringforth healing, transformation and growth in ourselves and the wider
society, as we remember Pepe in eternity.
Family and friends of Jose Pepe Manegdeg III. November 2014.