Their concern follows months of killings as Filipino President, Rodrigo Duterte, fights a war against drugs.

In their letter, which was read at all Masses on Sunday, the bishops recounted the passage of a House of Representatives bill that would restore the death penalty.

The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006. Duterte has advocated its restoration.

"It was Ash Wednesday when members of the lower House, on the second reading of the death penalty bill, outvoted by voice-voting the nays with their ayes.

"Ironically, they were captured on television shouting in favor of death with their foreheads marked with crosses made of ashes," the bishops said.

"Could they have forgotten what that cross meant?"

Thousands of "drug war" victims are estimated to have died so far.

"To the people who use the Bible to defend the death penalty, need we point out how many other crimes against humanity have been justified, using the same Bible?" the bishops asked.

Source

• Crux
• Image: Malay Mail Online

"We are alarmed at the silence of the government, groups, and majority of the people in the face of these killings," the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) said in a statement dated August 17.

AMRSP added: "Evil prospers where good men are silent.Is this lack of public outcry a tacit approval of what is happening? Is it fear that prevents people from speaking out?

"Whatever the reason, this problem, if it remains unchecked, leads to a culture of impunity."

The statement was signed by AMRSP co-chairpersons Fr Cielito Almazan OFM and Sr Regina Kuizon, RGS, along with the group's vice-co-chairpersons and board members.

The group issued this statement as nearly 2,000 people have died in the face of the war on drugs waged by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa told a Senate inquiry this week that 1,946 people have died amid the war on drugs.

Dela Rosa said police have shot dead 756 suspects in self defense.

He said there are another 1,190 killings under investigation, but added they were likely due to drug gangs murdering people who could implicate them. Dela Rosa also hailed the success so far in the crime war.

In their statement, the Catholic religious superiors said they support this "determined crusade" against illegal drugs.

"We admire the leadership that the President has taken in this campaign and the determination of the people under him in working to rid our society of such menace.

"The drug menace, indeed, is an intricate web of corruption and patronage that feeds on the insatiable greed and desire of people for money and more profit," the AMRSP said.

Source

• Rappler
• ucanews.com
• Image: Daily Mail