Bishops Patrick Daniel Parcon (R) of Talibon and Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran, Bohol (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Two bishops from Bohol have expressed deep concern over the growing number of reported killings within the province, particularly in the northern town of Ubay.
Just this month alone, three killings have been reported in Ubay, according to a report by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Thursday.
For Bishops Patrick Daniel Parcon of Talibon and Alberto Uy of Tagbilaran, these killings have become a deeply troubling issue that is “unacceptable” and must be met with condemnation.
“We call on the faithful… to be united in condemning this shameful sin and crime of killing a person,” said the two bishops in a joint statement reported by the CBCP.
Parcon and Guy then “enjoined the people to pray for an end to the killings and for peace to reign in their communities.”
On April 3, a retired policeman was slain and his 17-year-old nephew was injured in a highway shooting; on April 14, a 60-year-old man was shot in the same town.
Police have also arrested three suspects for killing a 29-year-old security aide who was shot in a gas station robbery on April 17.
READ: Cops nab suspects in robbery-shooting at Bohol gas station
A cockpit referee was also slain by two motorcycle-riding assailants on March 19.
It is not the first time the CBCP and Bishop Uy have spoken out against similar social issues. The bishops’ conference recently released a statement against human trafficking, while Uy has been vocal on human rights issues, including climate justice and disaster response.