MANILA, Philippines – Davao-based nuns accused the military Saturday of “persecuting” church people for their work with the poor and for the environment.
The Sisters Association of Mindanao (Samin) questioned the arrest of St. Stella Matutina and three environment advocates last Feb. 16, according tn the online news site Mindanao Daily Mirror (www.dailymirror.ph).
“They have committed no crimes; they have committed no acts that make them deserve detention and being suspected as rebels. Sr. Stella and her companions were in Taytayan on the invitation of local officials to talk on environmental awareness and protection,” a statement posted on the Web site said.
Samin said the Army’s 67th Infantry Battalion arrested Matutina of the Missionary Benedictine Sisters and advocates Maria Fe Matibo, Wenceslao Mapa, and Gil Sentinales in the barangay hall of Taytayan, Cateel, Davao Oriental.
It questioned the claim of 67th IB officials that they failed to coordinate with it before holding the forum.
“They have conveyed a ‘veiled threat’ to Sr. Stella that she should have rather stayed in the convent than work in a ‘critical’ area where NPAs thrive. They have raised the specter of ‘fake nuns’ roaming the rural areas ‘to organize the people and turn them against the government,’” the statement said.
Full article at GMA News
