San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said the pealing of church bells will continue “until the killings stop. Let the tolling of bells remind us that the senseless killings are inhuman,” he said in a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines News post.“Let the tolling of the church bells call us to a collective prayer, for us to beg God to touch the hearts of the perpetrators, as we call on responsible government agencies to effectively address the series of deaths,” Alminaza added.
The bishop‘s move came after seven people were killed recently in separate shooting incidents in the province. Human rights watchdog Defend Negros #Stop the Killings Network said it had recorded 74 victims of extrajudicial killings on Negros Island since January 2017. In a pastoral letter, the bishop called on local government leaders “to speak up and join us in the cry to end the senseless killings. Please speak up! Let not your silence add to the growing number of killings. Let not your silence embolden more the criminals. Let justice and peace reign. Our people are longing for an end to the barbaric killings due to the drug war and the anti-insurgency campaign,” the prelate said.
The Church leader urged the government to promote integral peace in Negros. “We reiterate the call for integral peace – one that addresses social injustice and promotes economic equality and inclusive development for all. There is a need to resolve issues, advance a common dream for integral peace, and resume the peace negotiations,” Alminaza said.
Alminaza also called on the police and the military “to maintain and promote peace in the island. Maintain peace, do not create violence! Act within the law, not beyond it,” he said.
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