Incoming CBCP vice president welcomes SWS survey

September 28, 2017

Incoming Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) vice president Bishop Pablo David welcomed a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey saying majority of Filipinos do not believe victims of extra-judicial killings by policemen tried to resist arrest.

In an interview Thursday, David said: "Even if many of us have known this all along, the survey result is definitely still an encouraging sign."

"I think the survey merely shows that most Pinoys know how to follow their basic common sense," added the Caloocan bishop, who will assume his CBCP post in December 1.

The recent deaths of two teenagers and the search by police of a home without a warrant occurred in Caloocan, which prompted the Philippine National Police to relieve the city's entire police force.

"It does not make sense that a 'drug suspect', who knows he'll surely die if he engages heavily armed policemen in a special operation in a firefight, would still fight," said David.

If some people resist arrest,  David said police have no right to kill them outright.

"Even presuming that they are involved in drugs, I know of no law that says they can just be summarily executed," said David.

SWS, in a result of their survey done  June 23 to 26, said 54 percent agree with the statement that “many of those killed by the police in the anti-drug campaign did not really fight the police".

The SWS poll results revealed only 20 percent disagree while 25 percent were undecided. DMS