Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen of Infanta who died on April 27 at the age of 89 was known for his love and service for the poor and for social justice. (ucanews.com photo)

The Communist Party of the Philippines-led National Democratic Front has paid tribute to Bishop Julio Xavier Labayen of Infanta who died on April 27 at the age of 89.

"His love and service for the poor for social justice, freedom and national and social liberation are a lasting legacy and inspiration to the masses," the National Democratic Front of the Philippines said in a statement.

The front is coalition group of leftist organizations, including agricultural and trade unions.

During Bishop Labayen's tenure as head of the Catholic Church's social action secretariat during the years of martial law, the church's programs "became a powerful instrument of organizing for the rural masses throughout the country," the group said.

"Militant mass organizations sprouted empowering the people to fight for their rights and to strongly oppose dictatorship," said Luis Jalandoni, chairman of the coalition.

Among Bishop’s Labayen's "valuable contributions to the Filipino people's struggle for social justice, national and social liberation" was the establishment of social action centers around the country from 1966 to 1982, he said.

"[Labayen] was the inspiring organizer of the Catholic Church’s program of serving the rural masses," said Jalandoni.

When Ferdinand Marcos imposed martial law in September 1972, Bishop Labayen was one of 17 Catholic bishops who condemned the dictatorship. He became a target of the military because of his resistance to martial law and his condemnation of human rights violations.

"Bishop Labayen exuded his love for the poor and oppressed. He was a firm proponent of a church of the poor, for the poor," said Jalandoni.

The late bishop was born in 1926 in Talisay, in the central Philippine province of Negros Occidental. He was ordained a priest of the Order of Discalced Carmelites in 1955. He was appointed prelate of Infanta in Quezon province in 1966.