Church Worried Over Public Silence

True to her word, neophyte Senator Leila De Lima formally filed a Senate resolution yesterday seeking an investigation into suspicious instances of summary executions of persons allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 9, the former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary said it is necessary for Congress to probe the alarming incidence and pattern of summary killings carried out by law enforcement agencies on suspected criminals, particularly those linked to illegal drugs, which if left unabated and unchecked, “can escalate into a crime against humanity under international law.”

De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commissioner, said an investigation would help lawmakers strengthen the mechanisms in ensuring the most fundamental and basic of human rights, which is the right to life.

“Extrajudicial killings by vigilantes were being justified in the mass media on the ground of expediency coupled with the lowest regard for the so-called ‘dregs of society’ and ‘scums of the earth’,” De Lima said in the explanatory note of the resolution.

“As for the summary killings done in the performance of police work, authorities offer a common explanation whereby the executions were supposedly conducted in pursuit of legitimate law enforcement,” she noted.

The Senate, she said urgently needs to look into the “factual and legal issues related to these killings and to check the possible abuses of the exercise of authority by the concerned law enforcement units.”

The Senate probe seeks to reinforce legal administration to address the phenomenon of vigilantism and summary killings and to enhance the legal mechanisms of accountability of state and non-state actors.

In calling for a probe, De Lima also sought approval to strengthen the roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies particularly the CHR which is mandated to investigate cases of extrajudicial killings and summary executions that are perpetrated and/or tolerated by public officers; and to institute additional legislative measures that uphold and enrich the right to life while at the same time, contributing significantly to the government’s fight against criminality and illegal drugs.

NO PUBLIC OUTCRY

Bodies of alleged drug users and peddlers have been turning up the streets almost everyday with placards to describe their trade. The number of those who engaged lawmen in a shootout in drug-related operations also increased since the police launched an aggressive campaign to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs.

 And the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is alarmed over the lack of public outrage against the rising death toll from the government’s nationwide campaign against illegal drugs.

In an interview over the Church-run Radyo Veritas, CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Basic Ecclesiastical Communities Executive Secretary Fr. Amado Picardal said the situation is worrisome as the silence may mean approval of extrajudicial killings.

“The reaction of the citizens, of which majority are Catholics, Christians, is to suspend their belief of what is right and wrong by either being quiet or they approve of it. For them, it is justified until the one involved are their families and relatives,” Picardal said.

“If this will continue, this will worsen. I think there is madness that is happening in our country today. My worry is that this will not stop because, we, the citizens, there’s no outcry, there is no moral outcry,” he added.

ALARMED

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo also raised concern over extrajudicial killings and vowed to discuss the rising incidents of killing with President Duterte “when it comes up.”

“I’m very vocal that I’m concerned about it. I’m vocal that I’m against it,” Robredo, who heads the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), said.

The Vice President recalled that Duterte’s war against drugs and criminals was discussed in their recent meeting, but not the extrajudicial killings.

Robredo has joined calls in the Senate and the House of Representatives for an investigation into the spate of killings of drug suspects.

She expressed alarm over the “growing culture of vigilantism” in the country.  “We don’t know where the killings are coming from since it is everywhere… Parang nakakatakot (It seems frightening) anyone of us, anyone in our families, anyone in our communities can be victims,” Robredo, a lawyer said in a press briefing.

On Wednesday, an ex-cop died when he shot it out with policemen of the Sogod Police Municipal Police Station in Southern Leyte during a buy-bust operation.

The fatality, ex-PO1 Emmanuel Salon is a high value target under the PNP Drug Watch list, according to Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar, Police Acting Regional Director.

Recovered were  four  pieces of small, eight pieces of medium and 1 large sealed plastic sachets all containing white crystalline substance suspected to be shabu.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said he is holding President Duterte to his June 30 inaugural address that his administration’s adherence to due process and the rule of law is uncompromising.(With reports from Mario B. Casayuran, Raymund F. Antonio, Samuel P. Medenilla, and Nestor Abrematea)

Source:
courtesy of MANILA BULLETIN

by Hannah Torregoza

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]