Members of the Promotion of Church People's Response hold a demonstration in Manila on Aug. 11 to call for the release of two Protestant church leaders who were arrested in Mindanao. (Photo by Mark Saludes)
The Philippines' Secretary of Justice has refused to heed calls by church groups to intercede on behalf of two religious leaders jailed in the southern region of Mindanao.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre said it has been his department's "adopted policy and practice" to give prosecutors a free hand in the discharge of their functions."
He said the principle "will also be observed in the cases" of Protestant Bishop Carlo Morales and Evangelical Pastor Kama Sanong who are facing charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Bishop Morales was arrested in May at a military checkpoint in the city of Ozamiz while escorting a peace consultant of the communist rebel group National Democratic Front.
Pastor Sanong, an anti-mining advocate in the province of Sultan Kudarat, was arrested on July 11 for allegedly possessing a .38-caliber firearm and a grenade.
The ecumenical group Promotion of Church People's Response, said the charges against the two church leaders were "trumped up" and appealed to the Justice Department on Aug. 11 to review the charges and release the accused.
The group appealed for "corrective action" from the department and to ensure "a fair and speedy process" for the church leaders.
The Justice Secretary said he has already ordered prosecutors handling the cases to send him updates.