Fwd: A Letter from Fr. Reuter, SJ

[Amarosa Bautista]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <maris...@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, Jan 22, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Subject: A Letter from Fr. Reuter, SJ
To: rzs...@yahoo.com, jgab...@gmail.com, jacob...@yahoo.com, valles...@torontorehab.on.ca, lornaca...@yahoo.com, beth....@gmail.com, leon...@bestweb.net, cill...@gmail.com, raat...@yahoo.com, belle_c...@yahoo.com, dio...@yahoo.com, eva.m...@yahoo.com, grace...@gmail.com, mqpe...@comcast.net, "abella, lillian" <lillia...@yahoo.com>, "Aragon, Susan" <minima...@attglobal.net>, "Bautista, Amarosa" <o.san...@gmail.com>, "Campbell, Cynthia" <cynthias...@gmail.com>

Justice at 3 A.M.
by Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J.

*Note: This is the e-mail prayer brigade initiated by Fr. Reuter for
Phillip.

Phillip
Andrew A. Pestaño graduated from the Ateneo de Manila High School in
1989, entered the Philippine Military Academy, and became an Ensign in
the Philippine Navy in 1993. He was assigned as cargo master, on a Navy
ship.

He discovered that the cargo being loaded onto his vessel
included logs that were cut down illegally, were carried to the ship
illegally, and were destined to be sold, illegally. Then there were 50
sacks of flour, which were not flour, but shabu - worth billions.
Literally, billions. And there were military weapons which were
destined for sale to the Abu Sayyaf.

He felt that he could not approve this cargo.

Superior
officers came to him and said: "Please! Be reasonable! This is big
business. It involves many important people. Approve this cargo." But
Phillip could not, in conscience, sign approval.

Then his
parents received two phone calls, saying: "Get your son off that ship!
He is going to be killed!" When Phillip was given leave at home, his
family begged him not to go back. Their efforts at persuasion continued
until his last night at home, when Phillip was already in bed.

His
father came to him and said: "Please, son, resign your commission.  Give
up your military career. Don't go back. We want you alive. If you go
back to that ship, it will be the end of you!" But Phillip said to his
father: "Kawawa ang bayan!" And he went back to the ship.

The
scheduled trip was very brief - from Cavite to Roxas Boulevard - it
usually took only 45 minutes. But on September 27, 1995 , it took one
hour and a half. When the ship arrived at Roxas Boulevard , Ensign
Pestaño was dead.

The body was in his stateroom, with a pistol,
and a letter saying that he was committing suicide. The family realized
at once that the letter was forged. They tried desperately for justice,
carrying the case right up to the Senate.

The Senatorial
Investigation Committee examined all the evidence, carefully. Then they
issued an official statement, saying among other things: Ensign Phillip
Pestaño did not commit suicide. He was murdered. He was shot through
the head, somewhere outside of his stateroom, and the body was carried
to his room and placed in the bed. The crime was committed by more than
one person. In spite of these findings, by the Senate, the family could
not get justice. The case is still recorded, by the Navy, as suicide.
For 12 years they have been knocking at the doors of those in power, to
no avail. Now they realize that they should knock on the door of Him
who said: "Knock, and it shall be opened to you. Ask and you shall
receive. Seek, and you shall find."

So they are asking all of
the friends of Phillip from the Ateneo, from the PMA, friends of the
family - including the girl he was engaged to marry - to say this
prayer: Lord, we know that Phillip is safe with you, and will be safe
forever, because he gave up his life, as You gave up Your life - for
justice. If it is Your will, please let the truth be known of his
heroic courage and strength and love of country. Let justice be
rendered here on earth. But if it is not Your will that justice be
rendered here, give each of us the grace to live and die as he did -
following in Your footsteps.

And at the last judgment, Lord,
when all that is hidden will be known, let Phillip be seen as he really
is - a brave young man who gave his life for honesty, truth, and
justice."

* * *

Phillip Pestaño died at the age of 24. He was scheduled to be married in
January of 1996, four months after he was murdered.

He
was a martyr. A martyr is one who dies for the faith or for a Christian
virtue. Phillip died for a Christian virtue - justice. It is not likely
that he will ever be canonized, but he takes his place among the
Unknown Saints.

Some military men are killed in battle. They are
given a hero's burial. But Phillip died for a much deeper cause - he
was trying to preserve the integrity of our Armed Forces. He died out
of loyalty to the Philippines , in an effort to keep the oath that he
made when he graduated from the Military Academy .

Graft and
corruption are the curse of this nation. But when they take root in the
heart of our Armed Forces, they threaten our existence as an
independent, democratic country.

The family of Phillip Pestaño
is doing the right thing. They are turning to God. They are praying
that justice will be administered here, in our country, in our day. But
if this is not God's will, then let us at least try to preserve the
ideal of integrity in every mind and heart and soul.

Let's forward this message to every freedom-loving Pinoy in our list. Thank
you.