4 days ago
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LEGAZPI CITY — Amid the political divisiveness in the country, Bishop Joel Baylon has urged Bicolanos to remain calm and not to lose hope.
"In the face of the current events in our nation, as stewards of our faith and life as followers of Christ, we, your Bishop and Clergy, desire to convey a message to you, with the hope that we may help one another in praying and reflecting on how we should respond to the challenges of the times we are facing today," he said in the pastoral letter being read on Sunday Masses across the Albay province.
"It is good to ask how we are to understand, for example, the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC), so that he may answer the accusation against him of the killing of more than 5,000 people (or even over 30,000 according to some) during his presidency from 2016 to 2022," Baylon said.
It can be recalled that when the former president was summoned before a Senate committee, Duterte admitted that he had ordered the police to kill drug peddlers.
"Because of the power and influence he displayed as a leader — strong-willed, showing no regard for anyone, not even the Lord God whom he often mocked — hardly any of us imagined that he would one day face a situation beyond his control, and that his voice would lose its power, as is now happening to him," Baylon said.
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"What does this event involving former President Duterte teach us?" the prelate asked.
Baylon said that the arrest of Duterte teaches the following:
"First of all, we are reminded that all our actions have consequences. And if what we do is wrong — especially if it causes harm or death to others — we will be held accountable and judged before the court of humanity and the judgment seat of God," he said.
"Second, we are reminded that every person has dignity that must not be disregarded. Human life is deeply valuable, and no one has the right to treat it as disposable — because life comes from God, and we do not have the power to destroy, abuse, trample on, or take the life of anyone."
He said he supports the good work of the police and the military, but he rejects the abuses of authority and violations of human rights.
"If we cannot bear to witness even a single person being killed, how can we ever ignore the thousands who have already been killed, whatever the reason may be? We cannot say that just because someone is a drug user or a criminal, their fate must be death," he said.
"In this election season, let us first be citizens and voters with integrity, who respect the sacredness of the ballot — before we even choose candidates who themselves must have integrity and a heart for service."
