Tatlong arsobispo mula Hilagang Luzon nitong Sabado, Seyembre 11, ang nagpaalala sa mga Pilipino ng moral na tungkulin sa paglaban sa kultura ng pagpatay at katiwalian sa gobyerno.
Sa isang pastoral message na pinirmahan nina Nueva Segovia Archbishop Marlo Peralta, Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, at Tuguegarao Archbishop Ricardo Baccay, kinundena ng tatlong arsobispo ang pagpatay sa higit 30,000 Pilipino sa ilalim ng kampanya kontra droga ng pamahalaan sa loob ng limang taon.
“It is like living in the valley of death — killing of drug users and opponents; helpless death in the pandemic, death by governance without vision, death by shameless corruption that seems to break all records. Killings! Murders! Deaths!”sabi ng mensahe.
Kinundena rin nina Archbishops Peralta, Villegas, and Baccay ang pagpatay sa ilang mamamahayag, katunggali sa politika, court judges, mga pari at pati na rin ang mga pagbabanta laban sa mga kritiko.
Ligaw na bala, tumama sa isang bata sa Davao—Comelec
“The pandemic was a calamity of nature that we could not control. We saw death in our homes and offices. The heroic medical health workers risked their safety and some perished with their PPEs on. While other nations have risen from the pandemic, our death toll continues to rise,” dagdag nila.
Binatikos din nila ang “katawa-tawa at nakalilitong quarantine classifications,” na “unti-unting pumapatay” sa mga mahihirap na walang hanapbuhay.
“Bullets kill. Viruses kill. Governance without direction kills. Corruption kills. Trolls kill with fake news. Hunger kills. The poor pay for the corruption of the powerful. The nation is sinking in debt.”
Nanawagan din ang mga arsobispo para sa “non-violent resistance” at “full investigation” laban sa korapsyon.
“We have a moral duty to resist and correct a culture of murder and plunder as much as the prolonged pattern of hiding or destroying the truth.”
Hinikayat din nila ang mga kabataan at first-time voters na magparehistro para sa darating na Halalan 2022.
Gabriela Baron
