CBCP to police, military: Stop violence, uphold rule of law

MANILA— Catholic bishops called on the country’s military and police to stop the violence, drug-related killings, and adhere to the rule of law.

Preaching during the “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” Mass, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said both institutions must aim at justice rather than revenge in the battle against crime and lawlessness.

“Choose to be requested rather than feared,” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas, CBCP President, in his homily at the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, also known as the Edsa Shrine in Quezon City on November 5.

“If you have stumbled and waltzed with graft, rise up men and women in uniform. Demand ethical leadership from your officers. Choose integrity not the quick fix,” he said.

Archbishop Villegas reminded the security officials that power belongs to the people, not to the weapon holder.

“Serve your countrymen not the politicians. Edify us through your self-discipline. Return to the Lord and obey God rather than evil men,” he said.

The “heal the nation” campaign brought many people at the Edsa Shrine today to pray for peace amid the spate of drug-related killings in the country.

Villegas said the Lord Heal Our Land Sunday starts another month-long period of praying for victims of extrajudicial killings as a result of the government’s bloody anti-drug war.

Masses for the same intention were also held in the provinces for people who were not able to go to the Edsa Shrine today.

The “start the healing” period will end on December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

The CBCP has earlier declared Sept. 23 to Nov. 1 as a season of mourning and prayers for the victims of the “spreading culture of killings”.