Church to protest poll-related killings

AFTER “Huwag Kang Magnakaw (Thou shalt not steal),” the Archdiocese of Manila has launched the “Huwag Kang Papatay (Thou shalt not kill)” movement, part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to educate voters.

Fr. Atillano  Fajardo, lead convenor and the Manila Archdiocese’s public affairs head, told the Inquirer that “Huwag Kang Papatay”—a sequel and a parallel campaign to the anticorruption “Huwag Kang Magnakaw” movement launched in 2014— was aimed at preventing election-related killings in the country.

During the launching of the movement on Saturday in Malabon, Fajardo condemned what he called the “politically motivated” murder of two of the city’s barangay councilors: Daniel Villaluna of Barangay Concepcion and Bienvenido Reyes of Barangay San Agustin.

“Kapatid ng magnanakaw ang pumapatay ng tao (A robber is brother to a murderer). In covering up corruption and robbery, you have to lie and if you can’t have a coverup by lying, you end up killing. You kill not only the truth, but the capability, capacity and opportunity of victims to grow,” he said.

For the same reason, Fajardo said he was against Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte—the front-runner in the presidential race—for his alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings.

“What’s frightening about summary executions is the fact that the target of these are the poor—the people who do not have the right and the capability to defend themselves. That’s double jeopardy, twice victimized by society,” he said.

According to him, they plan to stage protests in areas where election-related killings have been reported. “I know some people are just afraid to speak up. With the campaign, the people will have the courage and initiative to stand up,” Fajardo added.

Through the “Huwag Kang Papatay” campaign, they will also replace stealing and killing with God’s word, he said.