Killing drug suspects is never the solution – Malolos diocese exec

MANILA, Philippines — Killing drug suspects is never the solution to Bulacan’s drug problem.

An official of the Diocese of Malolos issued this remark Wednesday after international human rights group Amnesty International (AI) tagged the province of Bulacan as the Philippine’s “bloodiest killing field.”

“We should ask, we should demand authorities to stop these brutalities. Kasi it’s not solving the problem. Murder, killing drug suspects, murder is never a solution,” pointed out Fr. Nicanor Lalog III, director of Social Communications of the Diocese of Malolos, in an interview over Radyo Veritas.

AI said in its latest report that it examined 20 drug-related cases in Bulacan wherein 27 people were killed.

It even noted that the spike in drug-related killings in Bulacan was made possible by the transfer of a number of police officers – who once led the bloody drug war in Metro Manila – to the province.

READ: Bulacan now PH’s ‘bloodiest killing field’ — Amnesty International  

Lalog also said Malolos Diocese is currently preparing for a response team that will handle the cases of suspected drug addicts, and assist them in their rehabilitation.

“Isang proposal nga ay magkaroon ng isang isang center kung saan there will be a pool of doctors, and lawyers, and experts who would be helping itong mga drug addicts and drug suspects kung paano sila maihahanda para kumuha ng legal aid and the same time maihanda para maibalik sa lipunan, mai-rehabilitate matulungan sila at makahanap ng paraan para masawata na itong problema sa droga,” Lalog said.

According to PNP data, a total of 6,600 persons linked to illegal drugs have been killed since the start of the Duterte administration’s drug war. /kga

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