Crime wave already alarming, bishops say

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MANILA, Philippines - Catholic bishops have expressed alarm over the spate of crimes in the last couple of weeks, with some tagging it a “moral disaster.”

They also voiced out their concerns over the government’s inability to promote law and order.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar V. Cruz told the CBCP News that the crimes reflect a “dysfunctional justice system than anything else.”

He even noted President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III “appears irrelevant in the present social predicament, and that is the reality.”

Kalookan Bishop Deogracias S. Iñiguez, Jr., for his part, said the increase in the number of crimes, and not just recent news of carjacking incidents, shows “the inability of government to promote law and order.”

On the other hand, Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said these killings are not situated in Manila alone. In other parts of the country, crimes are happening “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.”

Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez said the government should be put to action and 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.
Trance said the President should play a very critical role in solving the problems.

“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.

source: abs-cbnnews.com
image source: wordpress.com