'No one can say a person has no humanity,' priest tells Catholics on Good Friday 

In what may be seen as an allusion to Justice Secetary Vitaliano Aguirre's controversial statement against drug suspects, a priest from Manila on Good Friday said nobody has the right to brand others as not being part of humanity.

"Ni isa sa atin ay walang karapatang husgahan ang isang tao na wala silang humanity, [at na] wala na silang pag-asa," Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano of the Archdiocese of Manila told the Catholic faithful who were attending the Siete Palabras at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City on Good Friday. 

In his reflection on the second of the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ --- "Today, you will be with me in paradise" --- Secillano addressed those who criticize the Catholic Church for condemning the Duterte administration's bloody campaign against illegal drugs. 

"Meron pong iba na hindi naniniwala na ang isang tao ay maaaring magbago. Kaya ang sinasabi ng iba, 'Iyang mga taong 'yan, todasin na 'yan. Sila'y mga salot sa lipunan. Wala silang humanity, hindi na sila magbabago,'" Secillano said. 

But like the story of the thief who asked for the crucified Christ's forgiveness, Secillano said everyone has a chance to change their lives. 

"Pagbabago ang hinihiling ng Simbahan. Pero bago ang pagbabago, ang Simbahan din po ay naniniwala sa tinatawag nating pag-asa," he said.

"Naniniwala ang Simbahan na ang bawat isa sa atin ay may pag-asa pang magbago. And the Church becomes a concrete symbol of hope in the world we live [in]," he added.

In February; Aguirre downplayed an Amnesty International report that said the drug-related killings under the Duterte administration could constitute crimes against humanity.

“‘Yung mga criminals, yung mga drug lords, drug pushers, they are not the humanity. Hindi sila ang humanity,” Aguirre had said.

The Catholic Church has long been vocal about its opposition to the recent spate of drug-related killings in the country, as well as the supposed human rights violations that come with it. 

This, Secillano said on Friday, was the reason why many Filipinos criticize the Church. 

"But the Church is not going to preach against hope, because hope is what the Lord gives us," Secillano said. 

"If the Church preaches something along that line, then the Church contradicts the mission that was entrusted to her by Christ to be the symbol of hope," he added. 

At the end of his reflection, Secillano reminded the Catholic faithful to never condemn people who have committed grave offenses. 

"Huwag isipin na hindi na sila magiging maayos. Umasa tayo sa Diyos. Kung ang tao walang magagawa, may magagawa ang Diyos," he said. 

The Siete Palabras, or the Seven Last Words of Jesus Christ, are traditionally heard every Good Friday in churches across the country for people to reflect on and live by.

Other speakers in the Siete Palabras at Santo Domingo Church include Fr. Napoleon Sipalay Jr, OP, Fr. Florentino Bolo, Jr., OP, Sr. Cecila Espenila of the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Fr. Roman Santos, OP, Bro. Richard Pazcoguin of the Dominican Laity of the Philippines, and Rev. Fr. Felix delos Reyes Jr., OP. — MDM/TJD, GMA News