Robredo lauds Catholic church for stand vs. EJK

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday lauded the Catholic church for its pastoral letter condemning the recent spate of killings in the country and calling on its members to remain steadfast amid tirades against them.

Robredo issued the remarks at the alumni homecoming of Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol, a theological formation seminary under the Diocese of Imus, Cavite, where she was guest.

In her speech, she said the pastoral letter released by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) was “highly enlightening.”

“It spoke to my heart; and the feelings I have long harbored found solace in the affirmation of the Church—that the life of every person comes from God, and it is God alone who can take it back,” said Robredo, a staunch critic of extrajudicial killings.

“Taking drugs and pushing drugs shows disrespect for the gift of life, and endangers the life of others. But we must not lose faith in the ability of any person who has lost his way to change,” she added.

“Finally and most importantly, we must understand that ‘the deep root of the drug problem and criminality is the poverty of the majority, the destruction of the family and corruption in society,’ she went on, quoting from the pastoral letter. 

The CBCP statement, read in sermon in Masses on Sunday, said the bishops are "deeply concerned" about the spate of drug-related killings.

It said the anti-drug war has brought a "reign of terror in many places of the poor," as well as "indifference of many to this kind of wrong."

The pastoral letter was issued as the Catholic church finds itself the subject of President Rodrigo Duterte’s tirades in his defense of his administration's anti-drug drive.

‘Prevailing sense of fear’

Robredo, meanwhile, urged the Catholic church to stay strong, noting that many turn to them “for guidance.”

In a dialogue with priests at the event, she noted that she has also been the subject of “attacks” that come from “not just from one direction.”

She added that these are “really meant to weaken resolve.”

“Marami na tayong mga kasama na ayaw lumahok kasi baka sila naman ang atakihin, pero ‘pag ganiyan kasi lahat ang ating pakiramdam, sino pa ang magiging boses?” Robredo said.

“Sana hindi panghinaan ng loob iyong the Church as a whole and the priests individually, sa pagboboses … [S]ana hindi tayo maapektuhan kasi alam naman natin kung ano ang totoo, at hindi,” she added.

She said the pastoral letter “could be a tipping point” to encourage more people to come forward with their stories amid a “prevailing sense of fear.”

The Vice President said they have organized a team of volunteer lawyers to help the families of victims of extrajudicial killings, but only few have come forward to file cases out of fear.

Urban poor leaders have come to her office with stories of warrantless searches in their areas and killings that followed, she added.

“I think six months, seven months, was already too long a time na namahimik ang maraming tao. Ngayon talaga is a time na magkaisa tayo at palakasin natin ‘yung loob ng mga pamilya. Kasi iyong mga pamilya, while gusto nilang mag-seek ng justice, natatakot sila na baka mas malaki ang babalik sa kanilang hati-hati,” Robredo said.

Community rehab

Robredo also called on the church to help in the community rehabilitation aspect of the administration’s anti-drug campaign.

She underscored that drug addiction is a health issue, and must be addressed as such.

She noted that there doesn’t seem to be one program for drug users, most of whom would not qualify for institutional rehabilitation.

“We really need to put up an honest-to-goodness community rehabilitation program for them… I think po the Church, kasi parang lahat ng barangay nasa isang parokya. All parishes belong to one parish, it is something we can really paint an active participation in,” she said.

Robredo had earlier urged Duterte to “rethink” his administration’s strategy in his anti-drug war. 

The Vice President has also offered to assist in the rehabilitation side of this campaign, tapping several government units and groups from the private sector to help her office devise a program for surrenderers. —MDM/KBK, GMA News