No to killing of bishop, labor leaders or anybody!
STATEMENT OF ATTY SONNY MATULA
ON KILLING OF BISHOP, LABOR LEADERS OR ANYBODY
We manifest our strong objection to the call of our president to kill our bishops or anybody. This is an anathema to our understanding of our Christian or Islamic faith. It is also a call which is unacceptable in a civilized society.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in a recent tirade against the Catholic Church, said: “Itong mga obispo ninyo, patayin ninyo. Walang silbi iyang mga gagong iyan.”
Whatever his resentment against our bishops, the same cannot justify or will warrant the killing of anyone including bishop.
We also condemn the recent killings of trade union leaders and the threat to workers who organize trade unions.
The constitutional fiat of separation of church and state is not a wall of hostility. Our jurisprudence has long recognized that the state considers religious institutions as partners in instilling “into the mind the purest principle of morality”.
Art III, sec 5 speaks about that “(n)o law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
But this doctrine of separation recognizes that “(t)he free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.”
We are criticizing the president for his uncalled statement in an official state function.
We call on him to do some reflection in this Christmas season.
We are praying for his enlightenment.
Atty. SONNY MATULA
President of the Federation of Free Workers
Chairperson of the Nagkaisa Labor Coalition
