'From a generation of drug addicts, shall we become a generation of street murderers?' - Philippine's Archbishop opens up about Filipino drug murders

'There is a little voice of humanity in us that I believe is disturbed by the killings.'

The Philippines struggles with extrajudicial killings, leaving Philippine Catholic Church leaders uncertain.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - "What I predicted is happening, and the Church is powerless to stop the killings," Father Amado Picardal, the head of the Philippine bishop's Commission for Basic Ecclesial Communities, told UCA News.

Father Picardal places the blame for the extrajudicial killings at Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's feet.

"He may have the political will, but he lacks the vision, compassion, integrity, and emotional intelligence necessary to effect genuine change," Father Picardal explained.

"It is doubtful if he can effectively and single-handedly eliminate criminality and corruption...He himself has been accused of being a criminal and as corrupt as other politicians with the extrajudicial killings and allegations of hidden wealth."

Father Picardal described Filipinos were facing "dark prospects" under Duterte as vigilantes continue to kill alleged drug pushers on the streets.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, president of the bishops' conference, told the Catholic Herald he was "in utter disbelief" and the murders "are too much to swallow."

He shared, "There is a little voice of humanity in us that I believe is disturbed by the killings," and added: "[The] voice of disturbed humanity is drowned out by the louder voice of revenge or silenced by the sweet privileges of political clout.

"In our dream to wipe out drug addiction, are we not becoming a 'killing fields' nation? I don't have to be a bishop to say this. I do not have to be a Catholic to be disturbed by the killings that jar us every time we hear or watch or read the news.

"From a generation of drug addicts, shall we become a generation of street murderers? [Can] the do-it-yourself justice system assure us of a safer and better future?"

Fr. Virgilio Canete of Palo Archdiocese believes President Duterte and the authorities need to be responsible to "stop the killings by declaring a moratorium [a suspension of the killings].

"The church cannot do anything now," he continued. "It has already warned of the consequences. Only those who started these bloodbaths can stop it."

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