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Activist priest says government’s war on drugs ‘immoral’


Activist priest Robert Reyes on Monday called the Duterte administration’s war on drugs “immoral,” saying priests would never join the police’s anti-drug operations.

“Our conscience tells us not to be part of an operation we have determined to be immoral. The war on drugs is immoral,” Reyes said during the Senate public order committee hearing on the recent deaths of minors.

“You do not solve a health issue with police force. Ang droga, hindi crime. That’s what you have to address first. He is sick and therefore, he needs medical attention,” he said.

Last March, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa announced the relaunching of Oplan Double Barrel Roladed where priests and local officials can joint the police in conducting the police’s anti-drug operations.

Senator Panfilo Lacson, former PNP chief and chairman of the Senate committee, said cops do not operate users, only pushers.

But Reyes argued that some of those killed in operations were sleeping.

“Dami natutulog lang sa bahay, tapos binaril tapos lalagyan ng cardboard na pusher,” the priest said.

Reyes further said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s pronouncements on the drug war promotes impunity.

“Hindi lahat ng pulis ay pasaway pero kung babalikan yung mga salita ng Pangulo, sinasabi niya ‘go ahead, ako bahala.” Kaya may impunity,” he said.

Lacson said the Church is welcome to present witnesses in the hearing who may want to speak out against killings of drug suspects. — RSJ, GMA News

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