The Pilgrims for Peace alliance of Philippine religious leaders and academics called on the Duterte government on 12 November for the release of “the full, complete, and authentic information and documentation in the killing of Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos and Eighfel “Ka Pila” dela Peña.

The Pilgrims for Peace statement, signed by the Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaga, Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos, Iglesia Filipina Independiente Obispo Maximo Most Rev. Rhee Timbang, National Council of Churches in the Philippines Bp. Reuel Marigza, Ecumenical Bishops Forum Bp. Joel Tendero, Sr. Ma. Liza Ruedas and five other religious leaders, said there are “lingering questions and a clear need for closure surrounding the deaths of Jorge Madlos and his medic, Eighfel dela Peña.” They demanded President Duterte “to make the facts of the matter transparent,” particularly “photos, military operation and police reports, death certificates, autopsy reports, COVID-19 results, uninterrupted claim of custody of the bodies/cadavers up to and including the delivery of the ashes to the families, and other pertinent materials.”

In times of conflict and strife, they said, “human compassion and common decency must still be the bedrock from which we conduct ourselves as Filipinos!” They referred to the standards under international humanitarian law on armed conflict as well as the GRP-NDFP Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, “to be respected on the treatment of the dead.”

New People’s Army spokesman Jorge Madlos, 74, was on his way to seek medical treatment on 29 October. He was riding a motorcycle with NPA medic dela Peña, traversing the highway of Impasug-ong town in Bukidnon, Mindanao. Both were unarmed. They were murdered by the elements of the Fourth Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner, Jr. The military claimed, however, that the two died in a firefight in the forested mountains of Impasug-ong.

The military ordered the hasty cremation of the victims’ remains, despite repeated requests by Madlos’ family and the Communist Party of the Philippines for the viewing of the remains, proper return to their families and carrying out of an autopsy by independent experts.

From all over the country and internationally, admirers of Ka Oris issued messages of deep admiration for his more than five decades of heroic service to the farmers, the workers, the indigenous Lumad people he integrated with, as they fought their exploiters and oppressors. The CPP’s tribute message to his life and martyrdom has already inspired translations in other languages, including Bahasa, Dutch, English, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish.

The Pilgrims for Peace urged the Duterte administration “to act without delay and provide the families some peace of mind by providing them with full, complete, and authentic information and documentation” on the killing of Madlos and dela Peña.