Letter from Philippines: March against government killings in 'war on drugs'

Last night together with many organizations, we marched to the People Power monument to show our indignation against the government war on drugs. The latest victim is a 17 year-old student executed by the police and was caught in CCTV.

Cardinal Tagle issued a statement ( see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/33226 ) and also Archbishop Socrates Villegas although in tagalog: www.rappler.com/nation/179320-tagle-villegas-cbcp-drug-war-killings-statement.

Cardinal Tagle's statement was read in all Masses of the parishes of the Archdiocese of Manila. Yesterday, the AMRSP (Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines) of which the Columban is an active member, issued a statement. Please find the statement attached.

The call of the protest yesterday was an end to the state sponsored killing in the name of the war on drugs. Hundreds of people congregated in the people power monument in the midst of heavy downpour. Yesterday, was also the anniversary of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino more than 30 years ago. May the death of Kian de Los Santos (the name of the student killed) awakens all Filipinos of the barbarity of the government's war on drugs.

Please pray for the Filipino people.

Best wishes,
John

JPIC Regional Co-ordinator
Columban Missionaries