A Roman Catholic bishop has expressed alarm over the continued public support for former president Rodrigo Duterte’s brutal war on drugs, saying it has fueled a culture of impunity and eroded respect for life.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos said it pains him to see some Filipinos continue defending Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, despite the thousands of deaths linked to it.
“As a pastor, it pains me to acknowledge that some among us continue to support former President Duterte’s campaign of violence, justifying the killings as a solution to the nation’s drug problem,” Alminaza said in a statement posted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on its website.
“They remain blinded by the false narrative that criminality and drug addiction can be eradicated through death and execution,” he added.
The bishop’s remarks come days after Duterte was arrested on March 11, following an order from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the former leader over mass killings linked to his administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs.
Although Duterte claimed his actions were essential in combating crime, human rights advocates and church leaders contended that the campaign undermined due process and promoted state-sanctioned violence.
Impunity, according to Alminaza, has long gripped the Philippines.
“Former President Duterte’s penchant to kill and slaughter flourished under these conditions.”
Holding Duterte responsible would send a strong message to other leaders contemplating similar human rights violations, he stated.
Alminaza also urged Filipinos to rethink their stance on the issue, especially those who continue to justify the killings.
“I pray for them even as I challenge them to rethink their position as some have already done,” he said.
“We must engage in a critical re-evaluation of our values as believers, reaffirming our commitment to the sanctity of all life,” he added.
The Philippines formally withdrew from the ICC in 2019 during Duterte’s presidency, but the court maintained jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the country was still a member.