Pilgrims for Peace

21/10/2025

Statement
21 October 2025

Justice for Radio Broadcaster Noel B. Samar
“Let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24

Pilgrims for Peace joins the outcry on the heinous murder of Radio Broadcaster Noel B. Samar. Noel succumbed to injuries after being shot nine times by a still unidentified gunman on the national highway in Barangay Morera, Guinobatan, Albay around 9am on Monday. His death at 2:20pm on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 brings great grief to his family, friends, and all who stand for press freedom.

As a radio broadcaster affiliated with Kadunong ITV and radio station DWIZ in Legazpi City, Noel was known for reliable, truthful, and compassionate reportage, prioritizing stories in the interest of ordinary Filipinos. As no suspect has yet been named, we appeal for witnesses to come forward and for everyone to be vigilant in seeking to ascertain the identities and motives of perpetrators.

Press freedom as a basic tenet of democracy must include the safety of radio broadcasters and other journalists.

We offer our sincere condolences to the family of Noel. We join you in prayers for justice for Noel. Only with justice and accountability will the senseless killings end. Life must be upheld as sacred. Those who murder must be brought to justice.

May God grant Noel eternal peace!
Justice for all victims of unjust killings in the Philippines!
Justice for Noel Samar!

SIGNED:
+Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.
Bishop of San Carlos
Convenor, Pilgrims for Peace

With additional signatories:

Fr. Oliver Estor, SOLT, Convenor, Pilgrims for Peace-Bicol

Very Revd. Rhee M. Timbang, Obispo Maximo XIII, IFI

Bishop Francisco 'Nonie' Aviso, Jr., UCCP-Middle Luzon Jurisdictional Area

Sr. Maureen Catabian, RGS - Women, Justice & Peace and Integrity of Creation

Sr. Ma. Lisa Ruedas, DC, Justice & Peace and Integrity of Creation

Atty. Ephraim B. Cortez, President, National Union of Peoples' Lawyers

Dr. Carol P. Araullo, BAYAN Chair Emeritus

Fr. Arvin B. Bellen, CMF, Prefect of Apostolate

Fr. Rhoel Gallardo Province-Claretian Missionaries

Dss. Norma Dollaga, General Secretary, KASIMBAYAN

Rev. Irma Balaba, Spokesperson, Promotion of Church People's Response

28/09/2025

“This is more about raising awareness and inviting more people to become aware and participate with us.” - Caritas President-elect Bishop Gerardo “Gerry” Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos

18/09/2025

walking in the light of God
Lakbay Dalangin in Bicol...

18/09/2025

The pilgimage begins... Lakbay Dalangin in Iriga City.

17/09/2025

Lakbay Dalangin
We join the prayer for in Bikol and throughout the Philippines.

𝗕𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗯𝗮𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻

Naga City – In time for the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, the Bicol Pilgrims for Peace will spearhead a social justice oriented “Lakbay Dalangin 2025” on Sept. 17 to 19 in Camarines Sur.

Various local groups and individuals will begin their spiritual pilgrimage at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anthony de Padua, Iriga City on the early morning of Sept. 18 and will end at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City on Sept. 19 afternoon.

According to the Bicol Pilgrims for Peace, their pilgrimage aims to promote spiritual reflection towards a deeper sense of faith and commitment to serving others, especially those in need as their response to the church’ s call on this Jubilee Year of Hope.

“Amidst the severe challenges of life – widespread corruption, exploitation of the public treasury, severe hunger, and a series of disasters – the people from the poor sectors of the Bikol region: we workers, farmers, youth, women, and the poor, are gathering to undertake a Pilgrimage,” said Rev. Fr. Oliver Estor, SOLT, Bicol Pilgrims for Peace Convenor.

“This is not just a physical journey, but a spiritual approach to God through Mother Mary of the Magnificat—our Mother of Hope, Justice, and Liberation,” Rev. Fr. Estor added.

The Bicol Pilgrims for Peace is a unity of the poor sectors from the Bicol region along with the Church People, laypeople, religious, and advocates for justice.

“Together we journey, not only on the physical path, but on the path of faith and social struggle, to advance a lasting peace rooted in justice, equality, and addressing the grievances of the oppressed and marginalized,” the group stated.

The group joins the national Pilgrims for Peace in calling for a peace that is authentic, inclusive, and just—a peace that is not just silence, but the fruit of recognizing the dignity of every person, especially those who are deprived of their voice and rights.

17/09/2025

Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, DD, Bishop of San Carlos joins Pilgrims for Peace-Bikol for Lakbay Dalangin. Let us all pray for their safety and spirit-filled pilgrimage from Iriga City to Naga.

04/09/2025

Pilgrims for Peace reiterated its commitment to push the GRP and the NDFP to resume peace talks and asked both parties to communicate with each other, or reach out to their principals through peace advocates.

01/09/2025

Press Statement
1 September 2025

Peace month opens with anniversary of The Hague Joint Declaration: Peace advocates urge Parties to revisit hallmark agreement and overcome obstacles to resuming GRP-NDFP peace negotiation

As September is Peace Month, Pilgrims for Peace joins with peace advocates around the world in rekindling hope for peacebuilding that addresses the roots of armed conflict.

This is an appropriate juncture to reflect on the developments in our peace accompaniment with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP). We have not heard from the two Parties, with almost two years since their November 28, 2023 Oslo Joint Statement, saying they would move toward formal peace negotiations.

There are indeed obstacles to resuming the talks, and these must be overcome. These include widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and the ‘weaponization of the law’ under terrorism legislation (namely the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012), which make peace talks nearly impossible. In many areas, peacebuilding has been muted or maligned with the NTF-ELCAC’s proliferation of ‘fear-and-terror’ operations. The so-called ‘whole-of-nation approach’ has led to deplorable red-tagging, terrorist-labeling, and criminalization of dissent with military operations that blur the lines between civilian governance and military objectives.

With September 1, 2025 marking 33 years since the signing of The Hague Joint Declaration, Pilgrims for Peace encourages the two Parties to consider again what can make for peace.

The Hague Joint Declaration provides a worthy framework for addressing the root causes of the armed conflict. Not only did it lead to the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) but it was also instrumental in arriving at a common draft of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER), which was nearing finalization. The two Parties can reaffirm agreements and drafts and move forward from there to negotiate on the third and fourth items on the peace agenda: political and constitutional reforms and the disposition of forces and end of hostilities.

We acknowledge that difficult economic and environmental realities as well as foreign security threats facing the country are sensible and worthy grounds for productive peace negotiations. Given the long silence since the November 23, 2023 Oslo Joint Statement, perhaps the two Parties can already reaffirm The Hague Joint Declaration as a framework agreement and continue.

As peace advocates, we enter the September Peace Month ready to work in overcoming obstacles to genuine peacebuilding. We reiterate our call to remove the terrorist designation of the NDFP, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA), as well as NDFP personnel under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. We guard against warmongers and peace spoilers as they seek to continue instigating obstacles to resuming the talks. Let us take stock of previously crafted and signed agreements, as these may help in discerning a way forward.

Pilgrims for Peace keeps hope that together we can traverse the road to a just and lasting peace for the Filipino people.

References:
Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D., Bishop of San Carlos

Most Revd. Rhee M. Timbang, Obispo Maximo XIII, IFI

Pilgrims for Peace FB page PilgrimsForPeacePH

09/07/2025

Press Statement
July 9, 2025

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆’𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

One year has passed since Jay-el Maligday was killed—a Mangyan-Hanunuo youth and a beloved son of the Maligday family, whose life was taken in what his loved ones insist was an extrajudicial killing carried out by state forces. Since that tragic day, the Maligday family has remained steadfast in their fight for justice.

In November 2024, the Maligday formally filed charges against the 4th Infantry Battalion, 203rd Infantry Brigade, and 2nd Infantry Division of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) before the Office of the Ombudsman. But negligence prevailed as AFP took five (5) months to respond.

According to the family’s reply-affidavit filed on April 21, 2025, the same institution failed to present any convincing evidence to make its claim sound plausible, which according to the military’s defense, Jay-el’s death was the result of a “legitimate military operation”, a logic generically used as justification by the Philippine’s number one human rights violator.

As months of delays and unanswered questions may seem endless, hope arrived today, since the case has started–finally– to move forward. A clarificatory hearing happened yesterday, July 8, 2025. Louijie Maligday, Jay-el’s brother, testified to confirm his complaint, recounting what the family and rights groups describe as a “brazen act of violence against a civilian.”

During the hearing yesterday, the former Brigade General of 203rd Infantry Brigade and now Acting Commander of 9th Infantry Division, Randolph Cabangbang manifested that the Maligday family should’ve just addressed the issue directly to them.

“Nakakainsulto ang sinabi ni BGen. Cabangbang na sinisisi ako kung bakit hindi na lang daw sa kanila lumapit kung alam ko naman na sila ang inirereklamo ko. Paano pa pagkakatiwalaan naming mga Mangyan kayong mga 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙠 (Mangyan-Hanunuo term for "military") kung pumapatay kayo ng sibilyan?” said Louijie Maligday citing the human rights violations committed by the 203rd Infantry Brigade under its former commander BGen. Cabangbang.

In pursuit of justice, the Maligday family has also reported persistent harassment and intimidation from state forces attempting to pressure them into dropping the case.

“Para sabihin ko kay BGen. Cabangbang, ginagawa niyo na lang ‘yan ngayon dahil alam niyong bigo kayong takutin ako na huwag ituloy ang pagsasampa sa kabila ng mga pananakot at intimidasyon niyo sa aking buong pamilya kahit pagkatapos mamatay ng aking kapatid.” Louijie Maligday added.

For the Maligday family, besides seeking to put the ones who triggered the gun behind bars, it is also a journey to fight for truth, peace, and justice.

“Kahit kinakabahan ako kahapon at may hiya pa kasi wala akong karanasan bilang isang Hanunuo-Mangyan sa ganitong kaso, dapat mapanagot pa rin sila sa ginawa nila sa kapatid ko kasi alam naman nilang mali ang pumatay ng sibilyan, kaya para sa akin, dapat makamit ko at ng buong pamilya ang hustisya sa pagkamatay ng kapatid ko,” added by Louijie as he shares his experience yesterday.

Unfortunately, Jay-el is another tallied number on countless lists of AFP’s unfathomable acts of violence against the people whom they are supposed to protect, but as the hearing pushes through–so as hope. Therefore, may this day be a rekindling moment for all members and relatives of the Maligday family, friends of Jay-el, and every advocacy group that supports our call–that justice for Jay-el is justice for all of us.

Defend Mindoro and other rights groups also call on the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Justice, and Commission on Human Rights to uphold and expedite their investigation and ensure accountability for the military’s role in Jay-el’s killing. The group also calls for immediate protection of the Maligday family and their community who remain at risk for simply standing up for their rights and seeking justice.