A former Jesuit Priest, past Mayor of Damulog in the Philippines and co-founder of the Muslim Christian Agency for Relief and Development (MuCAARD), Romy Tiongco was a Christian Aid staff member in the North West until a year or two ago. Never a man to rest on his laurels, Romy has been doing good work out in the Philippines and Sri Lanka in recent months— yet he may be at significant risk when he returns to the Philippines later this month.

Please sign the petition.

Death of supporter and a life on the line

The man who has been acting to prepare the campaign to re-elect Romy as Mayor in Damulog has been murdered, and threats have been made to others in his support base. Nevertheless, Romy is still going to run for mayor and has said in the press that he’s prepared to put his life on the line. The President is so alarmed at the number of suspected political killings that she has set up a special commission to look into the incidents— it may be that Damulog is declared a ‘hotspot’ ahead of the elections in May (see his open letter to friends and advocates for true democracy, the article from the Gold Star Daily and letters to officials in the Philippines).

Romy has asked that as many people as possible write letters to support the campaign for justice for the murdered man— Rogelio Estudillo— and ask for action to prevent future violence against candidates and their supporters. He confesses that his wife Linda Tiongco is very upset about his decision to run as Mayor; “Her head understands why the incumbent Mayor must be challenged, but her heart fears what possibly can happen. She lived in the Philippines long enough to know with her heart and mind the things that occur during elections. Every letter, every petition, every media article puts the possibility of getting killed more and more remote. But we both know that the danger is there and that it is real.”

Aid worker suffers death threats, Runcorn Weekly News, 15^th February 2007

A Frodsham-based aid worker has received death threats from corrupt political activists after standing for mayoral elections in his native Philippines.

Romy Tiongco, former Christian Aid North West regional co-ordinator, fears his life is in danger after a life-long friend and supporter was shot dead at his home.

Romy’s wife, Linda McLintock Tiongco, still works for Christian Aid. The couple are in Sri Lanka, busy with post-tsunami relief work.

Worried about the situation in the Philippines, they hope their many friends back in Frodsham will support a campaign to help Romy.

Please sign the petition of support in church or print it out and encourage your friends, colleagues and neighbours to sign.

Technorati Tags: Jesuit, Mayor, Damulog, Philippines, MuCAARD, Romy, Tiongco, Christian Aid, Sri Lanka, Rogelio, Estudillo