It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to Sister Crescencia Lucero, better known as Sister Cres. Last week, while in Jakarta, Sister Cres suffered a stroke, which caused cerebral haemorrhage, and, unfortunately, she passed away this morning. We thank all at the hospital and friends in Jakarta, who supported her and visited her in her final days and hours.

Sister Cres was a long-time advocate for the oppressed and marginalised, and a fighter for human rights, peace and justice in her beloved country of the Philippines, and beyond. This was evident through her involvement with the Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) as Chairperson and Coordinator of AMRSP’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission. She was also part of the FORUM-ASIA family for a long time, including serving as a member of the Executive Committee.

We cannot express what a loss the passing of Sister Cres is for the human rights movement in the Philippines and in the rest of Asia. We can only commit ourselves to continuing her struggle, and honour her by standing with, for and behind the grass-roots communities that she so wholeheartedly supported.

We share our condolences with her family and loved ones. And hope that as we continue our journey for human rights, democracy, peace and justice in Asia, she will continue to be with us, as she was till the end.