The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) on Sunday, May 2, called for the immediate release of United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) Pastor Daniel “Dan” Balucio.
In a statement, the group said they were gravely concerned for the safety and welfare of Pastor Dan, who is detained at Santo Domingo Municipal Jail.
The group said it was around 3:30 a.m. on May 2, when Pastor Dan and those in his home in San Isidro, Santo Domingo, Albay, were awakened by a raiding team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) from Camp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City.
PCPR said a search warrant issued by Judge Edgar Armes of Branch 4, Regional Trial Court, 5th Judicial Region in Legazpi City, was used to raid Pastor Dan’s home and take him into custody.
"During the incident, Pastor Dan’s family and National Council of Churches in the Philippines staff Almond del Rosario were commanded to lie face down. Shortly thereafter, ‘firearms and explosives’ were alleged to have been found," the group said.
"This fraudulent modus operandi of planting evidence against rights defenders and activists in the Philippines was already exposed in the arrest of journalist Lady Ann Salem on December 10, 2020 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila," PCPR added.
The group urged the courts to dismiss any charges against Pastor Dan and release him saying fabricating and planting of evidence must not be tolerated.
"Stop the attacks on activists! Defend the defenders! Drop any and all fabricated charges against Pastor Dan Balucio and release him immediately," PCPR said.