Christian leaders around the world have condemned the arrest in the Philippines of a church official and other health workers in the southeast Asian country, and say they are worried about reports of torture being inflicted on those held.
The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, joined other church leaders in expressing his concerns in a February 11, 2010 letter addressed to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and members of her cabinet. Tveit called for the immediate release of those detained, according to the Ecumenical News International website.
Tveit said the WCC is concerned to have received a report of the arrest by members of Philippines army and police of Dr. Alex Montes, a staff member of the United Churches of Christ in the Philippines, and a member of the Community Medicine Development Foundation, plus 42 other health workers. Security forces have accused the 43 of being members of a communist guerrilla army.
"I am distressed by the reported news that the detainees have been subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment amounting to torture, and that they have been deprived of their basic human rights while in custody," Tveit said.
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