CHARISMATIC communities and church organization leaders yesterday convened and signed a manifesto against the spate of killings in Cebu.
Fe Barino, chairperson of the Commission on the Laity, said the series of killings is already alarming.
“Among mabasahan nga naa na sa’y namatay, naa na sa’y patay (someone else has died) so we feel that it is really very alarming and must stop. Wala man mi kapasidad sa pagbatok niana kundi pinaagi lang sa pag-ampo (All we can do is pray),” she said during the manifesto signing held in the IC3 Hall of the IEC Convention Center.
The commission then called for an end to the killings.
She said that the purpose of their manifesto is to let the public and the government know that the Church cannot be silenced in the issue.
The group said the Church is against killing and any other violent ways to solve the country’s illegal drug problem.
“Importante ang mensahe nga this is the voice of the lay faithful. Atong baruganan nga kinahanglan, importante gud ang kinabuhi (The lay faithful must send the message that we value life),” Barino said.
Before the manifesto signing, the group offered prayers for the victims of the killings.
Barino also lamented the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte to give a P5-million reward, instead of P2 million, for every erring officer killed by law enforcers.
“Bisag unsa nga klase nga pagpatay, dili gyud na mahimo, dili gyud na husto, supak gud na sa kabubut-on sa Ginoo (That violates God’s will). Di ko kasabot nganong kinahanglan bayaran para lang gud mapatay ang tawo, kay bisag unsa kadautan, bisag unsa pa kaubos sa tawo, naa gyuy dignidad ang iyahang kinabuhi,” she said. Clarenz Jay Mendoza, USJ-R Intern