Alberto Ramento

Who was Alberto Ramento?

Alberto Ramento, Obispo Maximo IX is a former Supreme Bishop and Chairperson of the Supreme Council of Bishops of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

He was stabbed to death in his house in the early morning of October 3, 2006 in Tarlac, Philippines.

Prior to his death, Bishop Ramento had been actively involved in various organizations and movements advocating human rights, social justice especially for the working class, civil liberties and genuine peace.

He was co-chair of the Eucumenical Bishops Forum, chaired the Promotion of Church People's Response-Central Luzon and human rights group Karapatan-Tarlac, and various church and cause-oriented organizations. He was an ardent supporter of the Hacienda Luisita strikers. As the chairman of the Workers Assistance Center, Inc., he also supported the struggle of the workers in Cavite, Philippines. He was also a vocal and influential critic of the Gloria Arroyo administration.

In September 1998, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines Negotiating Panel nominated him as an Independent Observer in the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.