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CBCP head condemn killings
31 may 2006 - The president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has expressed alarm over the spate of abductions and killings that has swept the country.
In a statement issued today, Archbishop Angel N. Lagdameo described the said incidence as "a sad commentary of our country and government which want to abolish death penalty."
Saying that the cases of killings are "alarming," Lagdameo stressed it is not right that people be killed "simply because they have different 'political beliefs' or are suspected of being 'subversive' or plotting against the government."
He noted that killing is a "sin against life, a sin against human dignity."
"Whoever are the perpetrators, and whatever is the cause, the victims - irrespective of any ideology they profess - are still subjects of human rights and are entitled to due process in an unbiased court," he stressed.
Lagdameo also expressed concern on families of the victims who are "suddenly and unhappily left orphans."
"The killings leave deep scars on the memory of people especially members of their families which no amount of talk about national security will completely erase," he said. "Retribution and vengeance simply perpetuates the cycle of violence."
"If we are to work out our salvation and transformation as a nation, we must begin with our Gospel faith which tells us what our perspective on human life and our task in its regard," he added.
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