Philippine bishops warn against vigilantism, police killing of suspects

July 19, 2016

Extrajudicial killings cry out to heaven for justice, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned in a recent letter.

“We are disturbed by an increasing number of reports that suspected drug-peddlers, pushers and others about whom reports of criminal activity have been received, have been shot, supposedly because they resist arrest,” the bishops said.

“It is equally disturbing that vigilantism seems to be on the rise,” the bishops added. “Media has carried reports of bodies, apparently of homicide or murder victims, showing up on whom placards announcing their supposed crimes are writ large!”

The bishops also discussed the conditions under which it is morally permissible to “shoot to kill” in legitimate self-defense and warned that bounty hunting is never permissible when a suspect is killed in exchange for money.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Filipino Bishops appeal against police brutality (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 9)
• Filipino bishops to law enforcers: Too many extra-judicial deaths; bring back justice (AsiaNews.it)