Palace calls for unity as hundreds join anti-EJK mass

MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration is one with the nation in seeking “true healing,” Malacañang said Sunday, as hundreds of people join a mass against extrajudicial killings in the historic EDSA Shrine.

 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Filipinos should unite to build a nation that is free from crime, corruption and illegal drugs.

 

“We are one in the true healing of this nation that has long been divided by politics. We must come together as one country and one people and help the government in building a nation free from drugs, criminality and corruption,” Roque said in a statement.

 

The Catholic Church, the religious affiliation of more than 80 percent of Filipinos, organized the “Lord Heal our Land Sunday” to pray for the victims of the administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs.

 

Sunday’s mass at the EDSA Shrine was attended by civil society groups critical of President Rodrigo Duterte but organizers claimed that the event had nothing to do with politics.

 

READ: No political color in healing mass – CBCP

 

Roque said organizers of the religious event have the right to express their opposition to the government’s policies.  

 

“The president has repeatedly mentioned that he allows constructive dissent and that he would even give protesters the democratic space and time to enjoy the rights to peacefully assemble, seek redress and air their grievances,” the presidential spokesman said.

 

Roque stressed that the administration does not endorse the summary execution of drug suspects. He said authorities have been probing 2,243 incidents with drug-related motives as of the end of September.

 

“We reiterate that this administration does not—and will never—condone extrajudicial and vigilante killings,” Roque said.

 

“The president himself made a clear stance that any violation committed by the police during operations would be dealt with accordingly. Accountability is essential to good governance,” he added.

 

READ: Duterte decries EJK tag: 'I've been demonized'

 

Malacañang is hopeful that the Catholic Church will help the government in its campaign against the drug menace in the country.

 

“We wish to build better rapport with the Catholic Church and seek the cooperation of its leaders, even as we call on our Catholic brethren to pro-actively help government in our anti-illegal drug campaign, particularly in the rehabilitation and treatment of drug dependents,” Roque said.

 

 

Duterte previously hit Catholic bishops for speaking out against the killings tied to his war on illegal drugs and chided them for their supposed failure to solve the sex scandals involving priests.

 

Despite the president’s tirades. Church officials have vowed to continue speaking out against extrajudicial killings and other social ills hounding the country.

 

READ: La Salle president backs healing walk vs killings on November 5