Prepared late February 2010

Freedom is what we have—Christ has set us free! Stand, then as free people and do not allow yourselves to become slaves again.

(Galatians 5:1)

Dr Alexis Montes, a lay leader in the health ministry of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), is a victim of illegal arrest, disappearance and detention.

In the early morning (6am) of 6 February 2010, Dr Alexis (Alex) Montes was illegally arrested and detained by the 202nd Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Rizal Philippine National Police.

The Community Medical Foundation, Inc. (COMMED), where Dr Montes is currently employed, co-sponsored a First Responders Training for health workers in Morong, Rizal beginning 1 February 2010. Dr Montes was assigned to conduct the training. Reports say that more than 300 military and police raided the retreat center at gunpoint. They arrested the 43 participants before even searching the premises. Those arrested included another doctor, a nurse and a midwife. The military later showed a dubious search warrant as the basis for their raid. Dr Montes was blindfolded and taken away in a military truck to Camp Capinpin of the 202nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, at Samaploc, Tanay, Rizal, and has been denied access to lawyers, family, colleagues and pastors who have tried to visit him.

The military alleges that the training was actually on bomb making. They claim to have found C4 explosives, a pistol, a revolver, three grenades, three Claymore mines and an improvised landmine. (Philippine Daily Inquirer, February 7, 2010) However, Dr Melecia Velmonte who owns the retreat center where the training was being conducted asserted that the military had no witness to their search operations and could have easily planted the ammunitions. Dr Velmonte also gave a lecture on infectious diseases at the training, but was not arrested with the other participants. She and her son, Bob, demanded to see a search warrant when the military and police began their raid, but they were merely brushed aside. It was only after the participants of the training were already handcuffed that Police Superintendent Marion P Balonglong showed Bob a search warrant for a Mario Condes of Bgy Maybangcal, Morong, Rizal, wanted on illegal weapons charges.

The chair of the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP) visited the detainees and stated: “They are continuously handcuffed and blindfolded, they are not allowed to sleep, they are not allowed to feed themselves. Even when they use the bathroom, someone else is there to take off their underwear.”

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of the Philippines to compel the armed forces to bring the detainees before a court of law.

The UCCP has called for the respect of the human rights of Dr Montes and the 42 other detained health workers, including their rights to legal counsel, access to visitors, and due process. The UCCP has stated that Dr Montes is a respected leader in the healing ministry of the UCCP and have called for his release. The World Council of Churches has also called for the detainees immediate release.

Background on Dr Montes

Dr Montes has been a long-time staff of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. From 1988- 2003, Dr Montes served as the Health Ministries Coordinator of the Christian Witness and Service program of the UCCP. He also served as Executive Secretary of Bishop Elmer Bolocon from 2001- 2002. He has been instrumental in the development of UCCP hospitals, but his passion as always been providing health services to the underprivileged. Dr Montes has helped develop the community based health programs of many of the UCCP’s institutions. Immediately prior to his service with The Community Medical Foundation, Dr Montes was developing community-based health programs of the UCCP Visayas Community Medical Center in Cebu City. He served as Assistant to the Administrator for Internal and External Programs and Projects from 2007-2009.

Dr. Alex Montes ministering the sick during a medical mission in Montalban, Rizal. (Photo courtesy of CHD/bulatlat.com)