Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic bishops’ conference of the country, said it will extend support to families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, national director of Caritas Philippines, said the church agency will provide “the much needed legal and psycho-spiritual assistance to the bereaved families.”
The bishop said the “senseless killings, which he said were “brought about by the culture of violence and impunity” have been “brazenly popularized, if not encouraged by government authorities.”
He said the widespread “red-tagging” and vilification of activists and humanitarian workers will only lead to further violence.
“Instead of attaining peace, it seemed that our government has declared an all-out war not only to validated communist groups but to everyone they have red-tagged and vilified,” he said.
Bishop Bagaforo, who is prelate of the Diocese of Kidapawan, expressed hope that the perpetrators of the killings will “find in their hearts forgiveness, peace, and love.”
He said he hopes that the killers and the people who enable the “senseless murders” will find their path to conversion “while we would like them to be prosecuted.”
Caritas Philippines has sounded the alarm against the killings across the country, especially in Negros Island, which has recorded at least 109 cases of “extrajudicial killings” since 2017.
On Dec. 15, Dr. Mary Rose Sancelan and her husband, Edwin, were killed by assassins in Guihulngan City in the central Philippines.
Before her murder, Sacelan was subjected to “red-tagging” and vilification by a local anti-communist group. She was accused of being the spokesperson of the communist-led New People’s Army.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos denounced the killing of Sacelan, saying that after decades of selfless government service, “assassination is what she gets in return.”
The bishop said members of the clergy in the diocese “have been saying Masses for persons killed extrajudicially one after the other for the last three years.”
“It was so heart-wrenching looking at children, wives, and husbands burying their loved ones, wailing for justice,” he said.
Father Antonio Labiao Jr., executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, called on state security forces to “bring about sincere dialogue and peace talks.”
He said the “red-tagging” of organizations and individuals “will accomplish nothing but hatred, doubt, and more killings.”
“You are not a killing machine. Instead, you vowed to serve and protect the Filipino people, above all,” the priest said.
Father Labiao said the social action network of the Catholic Church will continue to seek “justice, equality, and harmony … despite the odds.”
“We will not be silenced. We will continue to march until we attain lasting peace,” he said.
