The four Dioceses of Negros Island launched Friday a joint pastoral statement for peace amid the rising violence, the growing number of killings and other problems like terrorism and insurgency facing the country today.
The two-page document was signed by Dumaguete Bishop Most. Rev. Julito Cortes, D.D.; Bacolod Bishop Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, SDB, D.D.; San Carlos Bishop Most Rev. Gerardo Alminaza, D.D.; and Kabankalan Administrator Very Rev. Rolando Nueva.
“As your pastors, we sense the grief, the anguish, the fear, the confusion, even the outrage and the many troubling questions of family members, colleagues, classmates, friends and communities of those who were killed without due process, either as part of our government’s war on drugs or counter-insurgency measures or as plain civilian banditry”, the statement read.
While acknowledging the “gravity and enormity” of the drug problem, as well as on other concerns affecting peace and order, they also stressed the need for law enforcers to follow the rule of law and respect human life and dignity by following the rule of law and due processes.
“This statement has become even more necessary because of the unabated and appallingly increasing incidents of EJK as part of the One Time, Big Time campaign, riding-in-tandem shooting, or anti-insurgency operations, as well as the ambushes perpetrated by the underground revolutionary forces. We are greatly alarmed, for example, by the spate of killings committed even in broad daylight that is still going on in the City of Guihulngan and the resulting climate of fear, demoralization, and unpeace”, the Diocesan leaders stressed.
Bishop Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete, in an interview Friday, noted that the joint statement also comes at a time when Guihulngan City is facing a serious threat to its peace and order because of the series of killings there.
Following the July 21 ambush by alleged Communist terrorists which left six policemen dead, three other policemen and a civilian wounded, several shooting incidents have been reported afterwards, also in Guihulngan or involving Guihulngan residents.
The latest was that of two people who were shot early last week in Boloc-boloc, Sibulan. One of them who hails from Guihulngan died; the other survived the attack by unidentified riding-in-tandem suspects, a police report said.
According to Bishop Cortes, what is happening in Guihulngan is actually one of the reasons why the joint statement was issued as he called for an end to this “cycle of vendetta”.
While the police has not come out with a conclusive statement on the killings in Guihulngan, a pattern shows that those who have been shot dead were either alleged members/supporters of the Communist New People’s Army or identified or believed to be informants or with linkages to the police and the military.
The Dioceses in their joint statement condemned what the signatories described as a “glaring selectiveness of handling the drug war where the poor are the main victims. Due process is strongly demanded in cases where rich and influential people are involved like children of top government officials while the poor who are merely suspected of the crime are summarily executed. We believe that this drug war as presently waged is based on a short-sighted and superficial understanding of the problem which needs a more comprehensive and integrated approach”.
The Church leaders appealed to the authorities to carry out their anti-crime operations in a legitimate and fair manner, reiterating what they had issued previously in another joint statement in October last year that called for putting premium on the sanctity of every human life — both innocent and the guilty, including the unborn and those needing reform; the defense of human dignity and human rights; the protection of everyone’s right to due process; and the rejection and condemnation of extrajudicial killings.
“We are convinced as clearly expressed by Pope Francis that there can be no sincere and enduring resolution to our present crisis “unless the response is concerted and collective, unless the responsibility is shared and accountable, unless we give priority to solidarity and service.”
Finally, the Negros Diocesan leaders ended their joint statement by issuing a challenge to all, including themselves “to pray constantly that our country may be effectively rid of the drug menace, but in a manner that is just and lawful; to intensify our work of evangelization particularly in the area of forming consciences and promoting the culture of life, starting in our families; to offer our cooperation and collaboration with government, civil society and other churches in the work of drug prevention and rehabilitation”.
Dumaguete Bishop Cortes said he has sent a text broadcast to the priests in his Diocese to start talking about the highlights and other important points of the joint statement but not to necessarily read it as it is quite long.
On the feast day of the Blessed Mother Mary which the Church is celebrating for her birthday, Bishop Cortes also stressed the importance “to call on Our Lady of Peace for her powerful intercession” that peace may reign in “our hearts, families, communities and the country”.
“We consecrate our efforts to the Blessed Mother because her birth is the dawning of salvation and we need that light” especially during these troubled times, the Dumaguete prelate added. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
