Churches in the Philippines decry killings in antidrug crackdown
One of the country’s most powerful institutions, the Roman Catholic Church, is stepping up its criticism of President Duterte's crackdown.
(The Christian Science Monitor) In a church compound in Manila’s far-reaching suburbs, a few dozen parishioners have gathered on a Tuesday afternoon. The men and women sit in plastic chairs and some come forward to share their experiences.
George Alfonso watches intently. The parish priest is supervising the event, a group therapy session for drug users trying to get clean.
Addiction comes with more than the usual risks since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in June 2016, pledging to rid the country of drugs in order to reduce crime. Filipino police say they have killed more than 3,900 “drug personalities” in official operations since Duterte took office, while activists say the actual death toll could be as high as 13,000. They say that vigilantes have killed most of the people allegedly using or selling drugs.
