Ledesma appeals: Ring bells nightly against EJKs

ARCHBISHOP Antonio Ledesma on Monday called on Roman Catholics in the city to revive the tradition of ringing the “De Profundis” bells every night to protest the extrajudicial killings in the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.”

Ledesma appealed to churches and communities here to ring the bells at 8 o’clock nightly and to “say the prayers for the dead.”

“Let this be our sign of protest against extrajudicial killings in the ‘war on drugs,’” reads part of Ledesma’s Aug. 28 pastoral letter.

Together with other church leaders and dioceses, Ledesma expressed “deep concern” over the “continued spate of extrajudicial killings that have claimed even young lives and many others without due process.”

He said the “summary killings and violations of human rights cannot be justified by invoking the greater common good –which our recent history teaches us will only lead to greater recourse to arms and authoritarianism and a worsening malaise in society.”

But Ledesma cited city hall and police officials for “only isolated reports of ‘Tokhang’ killings” which he attributed to their “conscientious guidelines.”

He said integral intervention on the drug menace, especially the community-based rehabilitation programs, have shown that a significant number of persons with substance use disorder can be treated and empowered to live productive lives again.

At the same time, Ledesma said the Church’s respect for the dignity of every human life also leads Catholics to condole over the loss of lives in the ongoing Marawi crisis, especially the killing of innocent civilians, Muslim or Christian, and military personnel in defense of the country’s sovereignty against wanton terrorism.

“Let this also be our call to prayer until the end of martial law — in  solidarity with all the affected families in the Marawi crisis, especially those who have lost loved ones.

“From the depths of our hearts, de profundis, may the God of Compassion and Mercy be our constant guide in the campaign against drugs and terrorism,” said Ledesma.