Philippino bishop honored for sheltering the poor
Thousands of farmers sought shelter at Spottswood Methodist Mission Center after government forces fired on their peaceful demonstration. Three were killed, 18 severely injured, close to a 100 wounded and scores missing. The center sheltered thousands of women, men and children for three days.
On April 1, 2016, a desperate situation turned deadly when the Philippines government security forces fired on a peaceful demonstration of 5,000 farmers who were asking for rice.
The hungry people got bullets from the government, but were offered compassion and shelter by Bishop Ciriaco Q. Francisco and other United Methodists of Spottswood Methodist Mission Center.
The bishop’s decision to offer sanctuary to the starving families put him in danger and he was threatened with arrest.
He was defiant in the face of criticism and danger.
“It is never a sin when poor farmers demand food, but it is a sin to deny them food,” he said in April.