Drug war victims’ kin backs CBCP’s ‘Stop the healing, Star the Healing’ campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Families affected by drug-related killings have expressed their support to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’s campaign “Stop the Killings! Start the Healing” slated to be launched on November 5.

The kin of drug war victims and alliance of human rights advocates, Rise Up for Rights and for Life, had taken action to mobilize poor families affected by the government anti-illegal drug campaign.

“We wholeheartedly support broad and dynamic efforts to Stop the Killings and Start the Healing,” Rise Up said in a statement.

“These killings must be stopped.  Families affected by drug-related killings under the Duterte administration can feel in the depths of their beings the pain of having a loved-one ripped from this earth.  They know more anyone how crucial it is to Stop the Killings,” it added.

The organization cited that families affected by drug-related killings “have endured months of isolation and have even faced a stigma of being labeled as criminals, hustlers, and generally unredeemable burdens on society.”

“Duterte’s attacks against the poor have continued to fuel unfair and nasty public disdain.  Our experience bears out that the families affected by drug-related killings are as diverse and as human as any.  Their desire to be embraced with compassion is real,” the organization explained.

Rise Up and the families of drug war victims would join gatherings with other families and communities to stand in them in their call to stop the killings. They would also be attending a mass for the same purpose on October 31 at the San San Isidro Labrador Parish in Barangay Silangan, Quezon City. 

The organization said the gatherings are essential as these are intended for families to grieve and remember their deceased loved ones especially during the All Saint’s and All Soul’s day. It added that the gatherings sought to send a message that the Church cares for them and also to make them feel that they are not alone.

With the church’s campaign, the families and human rights advocate would insist that justice would be given to the slain, the salvaged and the orphaned.

Rise Up also encouraged participation of each parish, local church, community, school, or organization in their call to end killings. It urged the communities to to discern how they can contribute to amplifying and strengthening their common call.

“We seek to live out a noble goal to “Stop the Killings! Start the Healing!” Giving pause to recognize that under current circumstances, we should be loud, united, and firm in our call. We must start the healing.  However, when fresh blood continues to be spilled in the streets, wounds will remain open and difficult to heal,” Rise Up said.

“We embrace the call that those plagued by addiction must be given venues to redeem their lives and heal their illness,” it added.

Earlier, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, who took the custody of the minor witness in Kian Delos Santos’ death, said the church is not meddling in politics. He said the Stop the Killings, Start the healing campaign even offer rehabilitation program for drug users.

RELATED: Caloocan bishop takes custody of minor witness in Kian slay