Catholic Bishops Alarmed by Crime Wave

MANILA, Jan. 20, 2011—Catholic bishops from Metro Manila and the provinces have expressed alarm over the series of criminal incidents in the country, even as they condemn the seeming inability of government to promote law and order.

Several bishops were united in their condemnation of the series of crimes which saw car dealers being burned to death, and other civilians that have fallen prey to various criminal elements, including kidnappings in Southern Philippines..

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz, a former CBCP president, said all the criminal atrocities mean more of a “dysfunctional justice system than anything else.”

Kalookan Bishop Deogracias S. Iniguez, Jr. described the crime wave as “alarming because it shows the inability of government to promote law and order.” He called for a serious study or inquiry into the series of events to find out what brought about the current situation and search for effective ways to solve the problem.

Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said these killings have been happening in other parts of the country but “silently and continually.”

Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo, head of the CBCP’s Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care said the crime wave was brought about by “inefficient law enforcement and the culture of impunity that criminals are getting away scot-free.”

He said all these have led to what’s happening now – a breakdown in peace and order.

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said more than condemning the crime wave and the persons behind them, the government should seriously consider “re-educating and re-training law enforcement agents.”

“They should be given communication equipment and transport facilities and sent policemen to cover regular beats,” he added.

But Bishop Trance believes President Aquino must act decisively to solve the issues of rampaging criminality, even as he urged the Church to find a way to help stop what he described as “moral disaster.” He lamented instances when lawmen participate in many of the crimes committed making the breakdown in peace and order “more apparent.”

“More than political will, there should be the support of the citizenry and the transformation of our law and order agencies and institutions,” he added as he called on the media to highlight the urgency for government to act now as lead institution.

Archbishop Cruz added that President Aquino “appears irrelevant in the present social predicament, and that is the reality.” (Melo M. Acuna)