The inter-faith group "One Voice One Faith. One Nation" has denounced the "Tokhang"-style killing of activists in the country calling them as "barbaric acts" that have no place in a society that is rational and believes in the sanctity of human life.
The group cited the raids that the police conducted in the houses and offices of activists in Calabarzon on March 7 as an example.
One Voice said the March 7 operations killed and arrested leaders and active members of people's organizations openly asserting their rights to voice the grievances of the people, even amidst the shrinking democratic space under the Duterte administration.
"By all logical measure, the simultaneous raids and the resulting killings, were not encounters with armed rebels, but a fascistic targeting of social activists of open, legal, and recognized cause-oriented groups," the group said in a statement dated March 10.
"We denounce these unfathomable acts that disrespect life and violate human rights," One Voice added.
The group said extra-judicial killings have not resolved the drug problem in the country and have actually exacerbated poverty and suffering of many Filipino families.
"To employ similar Tokhang operations on activists and leaders of the progressive Left is not only criminal, but an affront to the democratic rights of every Filipino," it said.
"Activism for social change seeks to address injustices and inadequacies in the systems, policies, and programs of governance. State-sponsored killings of activists should never be made acceptable fabricating evidence against them only further exposes the serious corruption and injustice in the Duterte government," added One Voice.
The group said there should be an independent investigation into the recent killings and arrests. Among the signatories of the One Voice statement are Manila Apostolic Administrator Bishop Broderick Pabillo, National Council of Churches in the Philippines General Secretary Bishop Reuel Marigza, Iglesia Filipina Independiente Obispo Maximo Rev. Rhee Timbang, and Sisters Association in Mindanao Chair Sr. Rowena Pineda.
Meanwhile, the killings in the country also greatly disturbed the head of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace.
Kidapawan Bishop Jose Coin Bagaforo said he was alarmed by the realization that violence, which was incited at first by harmful, pervasive and deeply damaging rhetoric of the government's highest officials, has become a daily fixture in the Philippine society.
"We have seen no government after the Marcos dictatorship, such as this one urging openly and repetitively the military and the police to 'kill, kil, kill,' But what is more dangerous to my mind is the fact that seemingly, we have grown to be accustomed to tolerating this blatant disregard to the rule of law, by disrespecting the integrity of public office," he said in an open letter to the Filipino people dated March 10.
"For almost five years we have let our leaders take command of our collective silence. They interpreted our inaction and passive nature as explicit permission to stir unlawful behavior as long as it is covered by legal orders and memorandum," added Bagaforo.
"What is our conscience telling us? if you are disturbed as much as I was, now is the time to create a culture of peace. Let's start within each Filipino family," he said.