Bishop says drug war survey an ‘encouraging sign’
Photo. An alleged drug pusher lies on the ground after he was shot dead following a police operation at a slum area in Navotas City, August 17, 2017. VINCENT GO
MANILA— A Catholic bishop said it’s an ‘encouraging sign’ that majority of Filipinos are convinced that many drug suspects killed in anti-illegal drugs operations were victims of summary executions.
Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said this perception of the government’s war on drugs is something that the authorities should take seriously.
“Even if many of us have known this all along, the survey result is definitely still an encouraging sign,” David said.
The prelate was referring to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey wherein 54 percent of Filipinos believed that suspected drug pushers and users killed in police operations did not resist arrest.
In the same survey, nearly half or 49 percent even believe that police are killing innocent people. Twenty-three percent, however disagreed, while 26 percent were undecided.
“I think the survey merely shows that most Filipinos know how to follow their basic common sense,” he added.
The bishop said it’s simply illogical for a drug suspect to fight back knowing that he could be killed on the spot.
“It does not make sense that a drug suspect’ who knows he’ll surely die if he engages heavily armed policemen in a special operation in a firefight, would still fight,” David said.
He reiterated his call for the government to observe due process, adding that the rule of law should not be disregarded in the campaign against illegal drugs.
“Even presuming that they are involved in drugs, I know of no law that says they can just be summarily executed,” said David. CBCPNews
