MANILA, Philippines — Caritas Philippines condemned Sunday cases of alleged extra-judicial killings in the country which includes the death of red-tagged individuals and casualties in the government’s war-on-drugs campaign.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, Caritas Philippines’ national director, criticized “in inestimable terms, the merciless killings brought about by the culture of violence and impunity brazenly popularized, if not encouraged by government authorities, and their supporters.”
“We demand justice to be swiftly served for the families of the EJK victims, including the victims of the all-out-war against drugs. As your church, we will continue working with the Commission on Human Rights, and our partner human rights groups and lawyers, to provide the much needed legal and psycho-spiritual assistance to the bereaved families,” Bagaforo said in a statement.
“We pray that whoever is behind these killing spree will look at their victims the faces of their loved ones, and find in their hearts forgiveness, peace, and love. Know that while we would like you to be prosecuted, we also want you to be converted,” he added.
Bagaforo took note of the national government’s issuance of Executive Order 70, institutionalizing a whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace through the creation of a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and the adoption of a national peace framework.
However, Bagaforo said that “instead of attaining peace, it seemed that our government has declared an all-out war not only to validated communist groups but to everyone they have red-tagged and vilified, without due process.”
One of the cases cited by Caritas Philippines was the case of Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan and her husband, Edwin, who were killed by two gunmen a year after she was red-tagged by a vigilante group.
Fr. Antonio Labiao Jr., Caritas Philippines’ executive secretary, meanwhile called on the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Army and other uniformed authorities, “to bring about sincere dialogue and peace talks, and do away from political machinations and influences.”
“Blatant red-tagging of organizations and individuals will accomplish nothing but hatred, doubt, and more killings. You are not a killing machine. Instead, you vowed to serve and protect the Filipino people, above all,” Labiao said.