An organization of songwriters has condemned the growing number of drug-related summary executions under the Duterte administration.
“The new administration has contributed to creating this environment that encouraged the recent spate of extrajudicial killings. Summary executions have already claimed numerous lives,” the League of Authors of Public Interest Songs (Lapis) wrote in a statement released on Monday.
The statement was signed by Lapis officials Chickoy Pura, Gary Granada, Cooky Chua, Bayang Barrios, Lolita Carbon, Karl Ramirez, Ada Tayao and Carmela San Pedro. The group calls itself “an organization of authors of public interest songs who seek to articulate through music, issues that affect society and the everyday lives of people.”
Lapis called on the government to stop the killing spree against suspected drug users and pushers, warning that other criminals might take advantage of the situation by “killing anyone” and justifying the crime by identifying victims as drug suspects.
READ: Close to 200 deaths in 2 months’ war vs drugs—PNP
“We, however, challenge the new administration to actively address the issue of these extra-judicial killings, unravel the truth behind these killings, hold the perpetrators accountable,” it said.
The group clarified they would continue to support the administration in its campaign against illegal drug activities but urged the administration to apprehend “the big drug lords and their protectors” instead.
Last week, the leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also voiced disapproval over the extrajudicial killings more than a week after the President Rodrigo Duterte was installed in office.
READ: Militant group condemns killing spree vs drug suspects
Senator Leila de Lima called for a congressional inquiry into the killings.
Vice President Leni Robredo likewise voiced her concern over the “growing culture of vigilantism and violence.” Jaehwa Bernardo, INQUIRER.net trainee/rga
READ: Robredo calls for probe into drug-related extrajudicial killings
