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Controversies impact Philippine Holy Week observance

Street plays highlight drug related killings, rights abuses affecting the poor
Controversies impact Philippine Holy Week observance

Activist and urban poor groups stage their own version of the passion and death of Jesus on the cross in a protest in Manila on April 11. (Photo by Angie de Silva)

Published: April 13, 2017 05:07 AM GMT
Updated: April 13, 2017 09:45 AM GMT

Drug-related killings in recent months and a move to reduce the age of criminal responsibility for children have influenced the traditional observance of Holy Week in the Philippines this year.

In several street plays, staged in major cities, activist groups have highlighted the killings and alleged rights abuses as among the "modern-day Calvary" of the Filipino people.

Catholic church leaders who have been vocal in criticizing the government's war against illegal drugs have also expressed solidarity with the protest actions.

"We are one with the poor in this Calvary," said Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila, adding that the "alarming deaths frighten not only the poor but the church itself."

Even as he described the proliferation of illegal drugs as "something that is against the law," Bishop Pabillo said "we cannot suppress a crime by committing another crime."

"Surely there are peaceful and humane ways to discourage poor people from taking desperate means to earn a living," he said.

"Surely users should be considered not primarily as criminals but as victims who need effective rehabilitation programs," added Bishop Pabillo.

For the past four days, activist groups have staged dramatizations of the crucifixion by portraying Jesus as a poor man sentenced to death by government officials, emphasizing that the poor are unjustly killed in the war against drugs.

Organizers said the street plays are a reminder to the government that the poor "feel very deeply that their lives are being sacrificed in the guise of peace and order."

Bernadette Sabalza, president of an alliance of neighborhood associations in Manila, carried a cross depicting the "culture of killings" in urban poor communities.

"The government's war against drugs makes blood flow continuously in our areas where the number of killings is rising," said Sabalza.

Leo Obnamia, a penitent, carried a cross with "reducing the age of criminal responsibility" printed on it. 

"I have a beautiful grandchild who soon after six more years will become nine years old," he said. "She will soon be considered a potential criminal."

A proposal in Congress aims to reduce the minimum age of criminal liability for children from 15 years old to nine.

"Instead of helping children and their parents correct their mistakes, our legislators are choosing cruel measures to inflict more harm on immature young children," said Obnamia.

Father Robert Reyes, known as the running priest for his penchant to run for causes he believes in, called for a more caring society.

"Violence and the culture of fear will disunite groups of people towards individualism," he said.

He noted that people are beginning to be afraid of approaching and assisting people in need out of fear that they will be accused of aiding drug addicts or criminals.

"This is not the society we want to live in, a community of alienation and malice," said the priest.

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