Bishops in Philippines condemn rise in police killings

(Vatican Radio) The Catholic Bishops of the Philippines have expressed alarm at signs of vigilantism and a sharp rise in police killings, following a general election a month ago. As regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn reports, the nation's incoming president has threatened to stamp out crime, using all means possible.

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In a statement, the bishops expressed alarm at reports that suspected drug pushers have been shot dead because they resisted arrest. They cited reports that bodies have been paraded for the media with labels declaring their supposed crime.

The bishops also condemned the offering of financial bonuses to police who kill. They said such bounties are never morally acceptable.

The statement is a pastoral message addressed to Philippine law enforcers. It was released on Monday by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines.

The nation will get a new leader at the end of June, when President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes office. He has said he will support police who kill in driving down crime.

The bishops' statement did not mention Duterte, but it condemned vigilantism, saying every Christian should turn away from such movements.

The statement finished acknowledging the brutality police face in the Philippines, but it said Christians should ask themselves if they have contributed to the spread of crime, by their acts or by their silences.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Cardinal of Manila, Luis Antonio Tagle, issued a special prayer for public officials. It quotes St. Paul's Letter to Timothy, urging people to pray for those in office so that they may live "quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way."

The prayer is to be used at Masses up until Duterte takes office.