Church backs UN rights envoy on EJK probe

United Nation Special Rapporteur Dr. Agnes Callamard during the Drug Issues, Different Prespectives policy forum at the University of the Philippines GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Prelates of the Catholic Church on Saturday urged United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard to probe deeper into the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) in the country amid the government’s war on drugs.

“I hope the special rapporteur would dig deeper on the extrajudicial killings and be brave in bringing out the report,”  Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said.

Pabillo was reacting to Callamard’s unofficial visit to the country to attend a policy forum on illegal drugs and the Commission on Human Right’s anniversary.

Running priest Fr. Robert Reyes said Callamard should not be intimidated by the government’s statements and statistics that there were no killings here, contrary to what the local and international press have been reporting since last year.

Reyes said the country needed help in sustaining its voice against the killings, since the government machinery was out to silence criticism.

For his part, Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes saw Callamard’s visit as paving the way “for unveiling the truth that must be admitted” by government officials.

“I am very concerned that our government officials and their supporters are openly denying the fact that there are thousands of victims of killings. They do not want to admit the truth although there are clear cases like the killing of a mayor in jail,” Bastes noted.

He warned that denying the truth will only lead to more murders of poor and defenseless Filipinos.