Respect right to life, top officials urged

PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The Catholic laity and clergy have called on President Duterte and the country’s top cop Director General Ronald Dela Rosa to uphold and respect every Filipino’s right to life.

The Social Action Network (SAN) on Drugs and Extrajudicial Violence of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines expressed alarm over the surge in the number of drug-related killings in the country.

The network, composed of lay ministers and priests from the 86 Arch or Diocesan social action centers nationwide, pointed out in a statement  that Mr. Duterte and Dela Rosa’s “shoot to kill order”  on drug offenders was an “apparent instigation of extrajudicial violence.”

Reminding the country’s top officials of the commandment, “Thou shall not kill” while expressing support for the President’s war on illegal drugs, the SAN members urged the President to stop the killings.

“The drug problem must be solved.  It destroys both human life and family.  It also brings harm to the fabric of our society. It is a complex problem, an obstacle to justice, peace, development and common good.  We express our full support for President Duterte’s goal in eradicating illegal drugs and criminality in the country, and applaud his political will and determination toward the goal,” they said.

SAN added: “However, the President’s pronouncements which imply support for extrajudicial killings and disregard for due process are deplorable,” adding that the killing of suspected drug traffickers without due process was “morally unacceptable” and violated human rights as well as the rule of law.

They stressed that the end would not justify the means. “We cannot achieve a just and peaceful society through illegal, immoral and fundamentally evil means,” they said.

The network observed that the poor were always more vulnerable to loss of life, destruction,  and suppression of their rights, citing reports that the majority of those slain were poor.

“We call upon President Duterte to put a stop to extrajudicial violence.  While fulfilling duty to eradicate illegal drugs, the President has authority and therefore a greater obligation to be in the forefront of respecting the rule of law, which calls for respect for the judicial process in his fight against crime and illegal drugs,” SAN said.

They also called on Philippine National Police chief Dela Rosa to adhere to their mission as protector of the people.  “Let the rule of law and rule of engagement be observed at all times with appropriate charges and punishment imposed for any violation,” they said,  adding that the cases against suspected drug offenders must be filed in court.