PNP, CBCP officials tackle ‘drug war’, priests slay

For the first time since the launch of the government’s brutal war against illegal drugs, ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) met on Thursday to discuss the controversial key administration campaign.

PNP chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde met with CBCP Public Affairs head and Permanent Council member Bishop Rey Evangelista and Secretary General Fr. Marvin S. Mejia at the CBCP office in Intramuros, Manila, PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. said.

Durana said one of the issues also discussed in the meeting was the series of killings of priests in the country.

The dialogue happened few weeks after the brutal death of Fr. Richmond Nilo, who was killed minutes before celebrating a Mass in Zaragoza town in Nueva Ecija.

Nilo was the third priest killed in the country since December.

The Church has consistently condemned the reported human rights abuses committed under the anti-drug campaign.

In November, the CBCP led the “start the healing” campaign, which included a rally attended by thousands of people at the People Power Monument in Edsa.  /kga