A CRY FOR JUSTICE

BRO. BISHOP ALBERTO B. RAMENTO, 9th Obispo Maximo, I.F.I. and the First Priest Member of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 (formerly Lodge No.17)

“I KNOW THEY ARE GOING TO KILL ME NEXT BUT NEVER WILL I ABANDON MY DUTY TO GOD AND MY MINISTRY TO THE PEOPLE”
(A statement of Bishop Alberto B. Ramento to his family before his death)

On or about 4:00 A.M., 03 October 2006 in the Parish of San Sebastian, Tarlac City, unidentified persons broke through the rectory of the church and entered the room where Most Reverend Alberto B. Ramento was sleeping. With intent to kill, and all the elements of treachery, he was stabbed several times by the faceless murderer in the different parts of the body that caused his instantaneous death.

Accordingly, based from the initial police investigation report, the incident was a mere case of robbery with homicide. However, the Ramento family believed that the motive is much deeper than what has come out from the spot report for there are obvious indications that Bishop Ramento’s murder was allegedly planned and politically motivated. They believed that the good bishop was silenced because of his principled engagement with the people and their struggle for the fullness of life.

The sudden journey of Bishop Ramento to the Eternal Home to live with his Creator brought marks of grief and sadness into the hearts of his family, to all the people of Cavite City as well as for the whole nation, considering the fact that he is well-loved pastor by his clergy and faithful, has earned the reputation as a social prophet, and an icon in the nationalist struggle of the Filipino masses with his uncompromising stand for national sovereignty and patrimony.

Bishop Ramento was born on August 9, 1936 at Guimba, Nueva Ecija. His parents were Felipe Curpoz Ramento and Margarita Bermudez Baldovino. He was married to Celerina V. Mendoza of Hermosa, Bataan (Sister of VW Leonardo Mendoza PDGL and member of non-existing Pilar Lodge No. 15). They were blessed with four children, namely: Alberto II (Aldos); Aleli, Alberto III (Altres); and Liezel. His three great uncles were I.F.I pioneer priests; Rev. Frs. Adriano Mendoza, Anastacio and Luis Curpoz.

He finished his course in B.S. Theology in 1958. His first assignment was in Malabon, Metro Manila, as an Assistant Priest from June to August 1958. He was transferred and became the Parish Priest of St. Anthony de Padua of San Antonio, Cavite City from 1958 to 1969. He became the Diocesan of Cavite from 1970 to 1993 and it was also during the year 1993 when he was elected and became the 9th Obispo Maximo of Iglesia Filipina Independiente. At the time of his death, he was the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Tarlac.

Some of Bro. Bishop Ramento’s Ecumenical Involvement:

Member, Executive Commission, National Council of Churches in the Philippines
Co-Chairman, Ecumenical Bishop’s Forum
Member, National Social Action Commission
Third Party Depository on the GRP-NDF Peace Talks
Convenor, Pilgrims for Peace
Co-Chairman, Philippine Peace Center
Initiator, Peace for Life
Founding Convenor, Movement of Concerned Citizens for Civil Liberties
Provincial Chairman, KARAPATAN-Tarlac
Judge, International People’s Court, 2005
Member, Presidium, Citizens Congress for Truth and Accountability, 2005
Chairperson, Workers Assistance Center, Inc. Cavite, 2006
Considering his outstanding service to his people, he was chosen as one of the Adopted Sons of Cavite City and was awarded as an Outstanding Caviteno during the year 1993. He was also a recipient of the Outstanding Son of Cavite, Province of Cavite, Philippines in the year 2004.

He was a family to the pioneer members of the Parish of St. Anthony de Padua. He was deeply involved in administering not only the spiritual needs of Aglipayan community but also helped his people materially. He was also instrumental in the renovation of the church. When he met and married Sis. Celerina on May 4, 1963, he considered Cavite City his permanent home.

In Masonry, Bro. Bishop Ramento was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft Mason, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in the year 1968 and the first priest member of Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 (formerly Lodge No. 17).

The untimely demise of Bro. Bishop Ramento is a great loss not only for the Iglesia Filipina Independiente but also for the ecumenical movement and people’s organizations.

At the age of 70, the victim of injustice, Most Reverend Bro. Alberto Baldovino Ramento, a fatherly pastor, a social prophet, an uncompromising nationalist, a peacemaker, a champion of the peoples’ cause, and a Mason, now joins the G.A.O.T.U.

“The I.F.I., the Faithful, the Fraternity - Cry for Justice”

Bro. Ric Alvarez
Bagong Buhay Lodge No. 4 F & A M
President, Kapatirang Alagad I.F.I (1999)

Sources / References

Most Reverend Godofredo J. David, 11th Obispo Maximo. Statement of the I.F.I. on the Brutal Killing of Bishop Alberto B. Ramento, 9th Obispo Maximo, I.F.I. October 4, 2006.
Cavaliers and The Hall of Fame, Cavite City.
Cavite City Council Resolution No. 06-138 October 9, 2006.