Group seeks release of foreign missionaries

MANILA, Philippines — The United Methodist Church (UMC) yesterday asked the government to release a detained missionary from Zimbabwe and allow him and two other foreign missionaries to leave the country.

The College Bishops of the Philippines Central Conference-UMC said Tawanda Chandiwana of Zimbabwe, Miracle Osman of Malawi and Adam Shaw of the United States are serving in the Davao episcopal area of the UMC.  

“We are saddened... that in spite of official requests for and in behalf of our three young people, they are still unable to leave the Philippines... and Tawanda Chandiwana continues to be in detention,” the group said. 

“These missionaries do not want to overstay in the Philippines. They don’t want to stay longer than their visas allow them to. They are willing to leave the country peacefully,” the group added. 

The UMC also appealed to its congregations across the country to circulate and read its appeal to their members and pray for the safety of the three missionaries. 

Australian nun Sister Patricia Anne Fox joined the UMC in appealing for the release of the missionaries, noting that Chandiwana is being held at Camp Bagong Diwa for six weeks now.

The passports of Osman and Shaw were confiscated for allegedly joining the International Solidarity Mission in Mindanao last February. 

Fox said any dialogue  with religious groups would be meaningful only if harassment against the three missionaries would stop and they are allowed to go home.

Fox was detained three months ago after she condemned alleged human rights abuses under the Duterte administration.