Sunday, October 28, 2007

Christian Clergy Murdered In Southern Philippines

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 28, 20070) – A Christian clergy was brutally murdered near his church in the southern Philippines, the Salem Voice Ministries said.

It said Pastor Martin Ambong, of the Jesus Is Lord Ministries, was killed on Friday in the village of Perez in Kidapawan City in North Cotabato province. He was stabbed at least 16 times and that his face was also flogged by a hard object.
Villagers discovered the body of the 48-year old Ambong near his church. “Villagers have seen his body first lying near the church on Friday morning,” it said.

It said police is still investigating the murder.” The Pastor was staying at mission house. Mostly he used to spend his time over there,” it said. “Pastor Martin Ambong has no known enemies. Such a good and humble man he was.”

No group or individual claimed responsibility for the murder, but extra-judicial killings are rampant in the Philippines.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines said at least 12 clergy and lay members were killed since 2004. Others were abducted or arrested and most of them were human rights activists, members of progressive political parties and vocal critics of logging, mining, militarization and other destructive projects in the various provinces. (Mindanao Examiner)

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