YCW on Extra-Judicial Killings

Statement of the Young Christian Workers of the Philippines on Extra Judicial Killings

As the new administration fulfilled its promise, the incident of extra judicial killings soars high. In its fight against illegal drugs, the number of lives lost in the battle goes up. Not discounting the fact that more and more public officials like mayors, congressmen, policemen, judges and other high ranking officials are being included in the name shame tactics of President Duterte. In fact, there is about 159 personalities in the list of drug protectors brought out to public very recently. But what really is the direction of the government in eradicating the problem on drugs in our country? The President himself said that drugs can damage and destroy all strata of our society from its very individual member up to the biggest group it could have, from the poorest of the poor to the wealthiest of all.

Lots of families have been broken because of drug addiction, more criminals succeed and heinous crimes due to drugs are here and everywhere. But can the killings solve the problem at once? How sure are we that the people being killed were ended the true culprits and not among the victims? Life is the most precious and the most valuable gift from God and yet the news about killing of drug offenders speak so differently of how we value life. It is becoming an ordinary thing and it seems that no one wants to be vocal about the matter. Yes, we agree that drug really ruins our life but we cannot address the problem by killing the victims. They are victims as well because they did not have access to proper education, they had no decent job. Poverty made most of these people to use and sell drugs in order to support themselves and their families.

The Philippine Young Christian Workers as a movement believes that life must be preserved at all cost.We want to reiterate that the killings of the suspected drug users or pushers will not solve the problem. By all means we ask this government to refrain and put those who are suspect in the due process of law. They have the right until proven guilty. Instead, we encourage the government to modernize the rehabilitation centers in the country and to concretely address the issues on job, wage and labor rights so that everyone may have a better life for their families. By ending one’s life, it will not bring peace and justice in our society it is just bringing distress and uncertainty to the people.

Genesis 1:27 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Errol Alonzo
National President

1316 Perdigon Cor. Merced Sts. Paco, Manila 1007
(02) 254-41-53
philycw@yahoo.com.ph

Comments are closed.