Auxiliary of Manila: Building awareness against massacre of drug addicts and drug dealers

Msgr. Broderick S. Pabillo, describes the outreach programs in parishes, involving religious and laity in for drug addicts. Thanks to the Duterte policy, since June 6 thousand addicts were murdered by the police or in mysterious circumstances.

 

Manila (AsiaNews) - We cannot "prevent the killings because we do not know when it will happen, we do not know how they are carried out nor who the culprits are. What we can do is to help addicts with rehabilitation and awaken the consciousness of the people”, ays Msgr. Broderick S. Pabillo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, alarmed by the continuous increase in extrajudicial killings of suspected drug traffickers in the country.

The Church, says the bishop, can take action in many ways: "We must make people understand that there is something wrong in this situation. We should appeal to the government to stop all this. We have a duty to speak for the public, so that governments are aware that there are people opposed to the killings and their conscience is touched. We hope that those responsible decide to change this policy, because there are other ways to deal with the drug problem. "

In the last six months, since Rodrigo Duterte became president, at least 6 thousand people have been murdered without trial on charges of drug dealing and drug use. The massacre, promised by the president during his election campaign, has been criticized by of the international community and Duterte himself is accused of committing a murder when he was mayor of Davao. Today the United States has declared that it will not renew a substantial aid package to the Philippines because of "serious concerns" aroused by the Duterte.

Msgr. Pabillo says that in addition to condemning the killings, the Church is active in helping the real addicts: "We have organized many groups, in parishes and churches, which are creating various types of rehabilitation programs for the sick. Our operators gather the needy, along with the village leaders and members of the police, provide them with education, do seminars and lectures on religious values, health and exercises they can do to improve their condition. "

Programs vary from parish to parish. "Through exercises and games - continues the bishop - we teach addicts to take care of their families. Some parishes also have reintegration projects, so that drug addicts are not lost to addiction. " Initiatives such as these are present in Manila, the Visayas and other regions of the Philippines. In the capital psychologists are involved working together with the Church.

This type of activity, says Msgr. Pabillo, existed before Duterte: "For example, on the island of Masbate, thanks to Brazilian missionaries, and in the province of Batangas. The programs have increased over the past six months because of the worsening situation. We have still not been able to collect complete data on how many programs are in place and how many addicts have been cured. "

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