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In face of drug slays, silence is complicity: CBCP exec

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/02/05/020517_dead2.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Friends and loved ones of John Jezreel David, 21, who was shot dead in what police said was an anti-drug operation, carry his coffin during his funeral rites at the north cemetery in Metro Manila Wednesday. <em>Romeo Ranoco, Reuters</em></div></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - Filipino priests will continue to condemn drug-related killings because doing otherwise would mean complicity in the crime, an official of the Catholic Bishops&#x27; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Sunday.</p><p>&quot;Kapag ganitong may nangyayaring patayan na, paglaganap ng predilection, at tayo ay walang ginagawa, tayo ay nagsasawalang-kibo lamang -- aba&#x27;y accomplice tayo, complicit tayo sa mga pangyayaring iyun,&quot; CBCP executive secretary Fr. Jerome Secillano told radio DZMM.</p><p>(When killings happen, when the predilection for killing is rampant, and we do nothing, we remain unconcerned -- we become accomplices, we are complicit in these incidents.)</p><p>The CBCP, in a pastoral letter read out at Mass services since Saturday evening, condemned the anti-narcotics crackdown for supposedly terrorizing the poor. The CBCP also reiterated that killing was not the answer to the drug menace.</p><p>Bishops also expressed concern over what they said was the &quot;indifference&quot; of many people to the killings. They lamented that the killings are now &quot;considered as normal, and, even worse, something that (according to them) needs to be done.&quot;</p><p>Their address did not mention President Duterte by name, but urged &quot;elected politicians to serve the common good of the people and not their own interests&quot; and called for steps to tackle &quot;rogue policemen and corrupt judges&quot;.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1457979" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><p>In the radio interview, Secillano clarified that the CBCP &quot;is not against the government per se, we are against specific issues.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Kung halimbawang maganda naman po ang ginagawa, 100 precent ang pagtulong ng Simbahan,&quot; he said.</p><p>(If for example, the government is doing something good, the Church gives its 100 percent help.)</p><p>The priest also noted that the Church is prepared to help in the rehabilitation of drug users through treatment centers in various provinces, including Bulacan, Masbate, Cebu and Naga.</p><p>Many dioceses, he added, are also spearheading scholarship programs and livelihood projects for reformed drug dependents.</p><p>More than 7,000 people have been killed since Duterte launched his anti-drugs campaign 7 months ago, more than 2,500 in what police say were shootouts during raids and sting operations.<br/> <br/>The government has denied that it is behind alleged extrajudicial killings. <strong>-- With a report from Reuters</strong></p>

<p>MANILA - Filipino priests will continue to condemn drug-related killings because doing otherwise would mean complicity in the crime, an official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Sunday.</p>

MANILA - Filipino priests will continue to condemn drug-related killings because doing otherwise would mean complicity in the crime, an official of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Sunday.