In the Philippines, the Church holds a strong power over the nation that their opinions and beliefs matter. They have been part in ruling the country. When Rodrigo Duterte became the President, the Church seemed to be on the opposite side. They questioned the President’s capacity especially now that the war on drugs is a top issue.
The President is now challenging the Church to help him on his war on drugs by taking the “preemptive move” of convincing drug suspects to reform.
During a dinner with reporters, President Duterte said he would provide the list of drug suspects to the priest and they, together with the Church Leaders could reach out to those who were on his list of drug suspects and talk them out of the drug trade.
“They are alive, you talk to them and tell them they would end up in a very serious situation if they continued (involvement in drugs),” the President said referring to drug suspect on the lists.
The President stated that the priests had done nothing to help him in his campaign against drug, instead they “easily condemn” it. On the other hand, the Church leaders have shown support for the anti-drug campaign but stated they are against the killings associated with it.
President Duterte also asked Church leaders to talk to village chiefs. Village chairs, he said, were not in the frontline of this war on drugs because “40 percent of them are involved in drugs. You see? That’s how serious the problem is.”
“We are now a narcostate. You ask why I did not tap the barangay captains (village chiefs)? I cannot trust the idiots anymore,” the President said.
He stated he had to tap the military’s help in destroying drug factories and running after all drug suspects. He’s no longer trust the village chiefs because of the involvement of many village officials in drugs. But he emphasized that his order did not include killing the suspects.
“You can ask the military or the police in Manila if I ordered them to (kill drug suspects). If anyone of them stands up and say I ordered them to kill the poor and the children, I would resign because that would make me a liar.”
“That’s the truth,” he added.
He said the Church would always find fault in his antidrug campaign because of what he said were irreconcilable positions on how to deal with the drug menace.
“For them, it’s pity and not hatred,” the President said. “No response. But the law is not like that. It takes pity on you but at the same time punishes you by jailing you,” he said.
He also said the war on drugs did not target the poor.
“I am here to enforce the law,” the President said
The President stated that the priests had done nothing to help him in his campaign against drug, instead they “easily condemn” it. On the other hand, the Church leaders have shown support for the anti-drug campaign but stated they are against the killings associated with it.
President Duterte also asked Church leaders to talk to village chiefs. Village chairs, he said, were not in the frontline of this war on drugs because “40 percent of them are involved in drugs. You see? That’s how serious the problem is.”
“We are now a narcostate. You ask why I did not tap the barangay captains (village chiefs)? I cannot trust the idiots anymore,” the President said.
He stated he had to tap the military’s help in destroying drug factories and running after all drug suspects. He’s no longer trust the village chiefs because of the involvement of many village officials in drugs. But he emphasized that his order did not include killing the suspects.
“You can ask the military or the police in Manila if I ordered them to (kill drug suspects). If anyone of them stands up and say I ordered them to kill the poor and the children, I would resign because that would make me a liar.”
“That’s the truth,” he added.
He said the Church would always find fault in his antidrug campaign because of what he said were irreconcilable positions on how to deal with the drug menace.
“For them, it’s pity and not hatred,” the President said. “No response. But the law is not like that. It takes pity on you but at the same time punishes you by jailing you,” he said.
He also said the war on drugs did not target the poor.
“I am here to enforce the law,” the President said
source: inquirer
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