"Police should be inspired, not condemned" -Archbishop Valles on anti-drug war

Davao City Archbishop Romulo Valles said the government police should not only be condemned in carrying out the government’s anti-drug war but the public should “inspire” them to do their job according to the rule of law.

“We will not forget the killings. That is terrible. But one side of it is we will inspire the police to do their jobs according to the book,” Valles told reporters after a special Mass he celebrated at the San Pedro Cathedral on Sunday, November 5.

“Push, inspire not condemn [the] police so they will do better in their police work,” the newly-elected President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said.

The Mass was offered in observance of the National Children’s Month that carries the theme, “Bata Iligtas sa Droga” (save the children from drugs).

Valles’ statement came on the same day that the CBCP initiated “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” where various organizations gathered at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City.

The bishops called to “stop the killings, start the healing” and highlighted the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) committed under the Duterte government’s campaign against illegal drugs. Human rights groups said there are already 13,000 cases of extrajudicial killings in the country, while the police estimated there are about 4,000 deaths related to anti-illegal drugs operations.




Silent killer

Valles said between the expansion of drugs and the issue of extrajudicial killings in the nation, drug utilize comes essential with regards to murdering individuals.

“I think we have to first address the problem of drugs. Drug kills, not only EJK. Parang number two na na (That comes in second),” he said. Valles described drug use as killing people “silently.”

“It’s very sad to have the count of killings, I’m worried about it but I also wish you do calculations how many lives were destroyed by drugs, how many were killed by drugs, how many families were destroyed by drugs?” he said.

Valles, who has kept what he portrayed as a "friendly relationship" with President Rodrigo Duterte, said the nation has never understood the degree of the drug issue until the point that Duterte won as president.

‘Healthy pressure’

Valles said the Archdiocese of Davao is directing its program called Sagop Kinabuhi (Save Lives) in an offer to give drug clients and pushers with recovery administrations. He said the program indirectly way helps the administration.

Through the program, Catholic schools and wards give restoration to drug clients. Valles said they trust the program gives a "more agreeable" condition originating from the congregation and Catholic schools.

“Church is more comforting and not threatening,” he said.

Valles said the program is still a work in progress. But currently they have finished the first phase of their rehabilitation program to at least 70 drug users who were accommodated by different parishes.

“Soon we will launch a 40-days intensive session that are in-house,” he said.

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