Catholic Church To Protect Cops Who Talk On EJK In President Duterte’s Drug War
Police officers who want to speak out about “extrajudicial killings
and summary executions” in President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war have been
offered sanctuary and legal help by the Catholic Church.
Human rights groups accuse President Duterte of waging a
crime against humanity as he seeks to eradicate illegal drugs in society in a
crackdown that has claimed thousands of lives since he took office in the
middle of last year.
The Catholic Church, which counts 80 percent of Filipinos as
followers, has been one of the leading critics of the drug war and its offer to
police on Monday, October 2, was another step in its efforts to stop the
killings.
Unnamed “law enforcers” with troubled consciences have
approached the Church over the killings, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the president
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), said in a
pastoral letter.
“They have expressed their desire to come out in the open
about their participation in extrajudicial killings and summary executions,” he
said without naming the officers or the victims.
“Within the bounds of Church and civil laws, we express our
willingness to grant them accommodation, shelter and protection,” Archbishop Villegas
said, adding that the offer will also be extended to independent lawyers.
“If such law-enforcers wish to testify, then the Catholic
Church will see to it that they are in no way induced to speak, to disclose nor
to make allegations by any member of the clergy or the hierarchy.”
The Philippine police did not respond to AFP’s requests for
comment.
President Duterte’s government has denied that killing drug
suspects was state policy, but critics allege his frequent public
pronouncements on the drug war were direct inducements to kill.
Archbishop Villegas last month urged his flock to speak out
against the “systematic murders and spreading reign of terror” that he said
were unleashed by the drug war.
Catholic bishops played leading roles in peaceful street
protests that led to the ousting of two Philippine presidents, Ferdinand Marcos
in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001.
Source: SunStar Philippines
Catholic Church To Protect Cops Who Talk On EJK In President Duterte’s Drug War
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October 11, 2017
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