The CBCP fears that more killings will be recorded now that Duterte asks for another six months to win in the war against illegal drugs.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines or CBCP fears that the already increasing number of victims of extrajudicial killings will continue to rise as President Rodrigo Duterte asks for another six months extension to totally eradicate illegal drugs in the country.
Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles said, they fear that the killings of personalities linked to the illegal drug trade would boom as the country as the six months extension pass by.
He also personally worries that fighting fire against fire is likely to fail.
“Bu I am also worried about more extrajudicial killings”, said Archbishop Arguelles.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said that the government should focus on the rehabilitation of these personalities and intensify its anti-poverty campaign rather than wage a war against drugs.
“It should be rehabilitation and stronger anti-poverty campaign,” stressed Pabillo.
The bishop also asked, “He should not also root out corruption in the police and the government. Where are the generals and the mayors who have been punished? Are there any?”.
Pabillo reminded that Duterte promised to step down once he could not solve the problem on the prohibited trade within six months.
He said: “In the campaign, he categorically said that the drug problem would be solved in six months or he would step down. But of course he is not a man of one word. His words cannot be trusted and he gives a lot of excuses”.
“He made the people believe. Anybody in his right mind cannot claim that. Can he not see that his method is not effective?”, asked Pabillo.
In one of his speaking engagements, President Duterte admitted that he needs another half-a-year allowance on top of his self-imposed deadline of three to six months to solve the country’s drug menace.
Duterte said that there are too many people, including politicians, involved in the illegal activity and he “cannot kill them all”.