MANILA (SE): The bishops of The Philippines issued their first joint statement condemning the war on the poor being waged by the president, Rodrigo Duterte, at the conclusion of their 112th Plenary Assembly held at Cebu City during January.

In a statement that was read at all Masses across the country on February 5 the bishops say, “This traffic in illegal drugs needs to be stopped and overcome. But the solution does not lie in the killing of suspected drug users and pushers.”

MANILA (SE): The Catholic Church in The Philippines was weighed but found wanting in responding to the issues that confronted the people, especially the poor, over the past year.

During national elections in May last year, the Church-based Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting tried to give expression to a Church committed to making a difference in the political arena.

MANILA (SE): The same man who said, “I wanted to call out, ‘Pope, you (expletive deleted) go home. Don’t come here anymore’,” on 30 November 2015 has now penned a letter to Pope Francis expressing the profound depth of his respect for the bishop of Rome.

MANILA (UCAN): In just four months, official figures released by the Philippine National Police show that around 4,500 people have become victims of extrajudicial murder under the guise of the war on drugs instigated by the current president, Rodrigo Duterte.

MANILA (SE): As the administration of the Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, turns 100-days-old, it remains largely defined by his obsession—a massive onslaught on the poor in the guise of a war on drugs.

Although he has made significant progress with the Mindanao peace talks and in currying favour with China, his most conclusive achievement is inspiring over 4,000 murders of people who may or may not have been involved in drugs—certainly some were not.

HONG KONG (SE): While in one breath, the president of The Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, proclaimed his war on drugs is succeeding, he wisely never answered the question, “Succeeding at what?”

If his criteria is the height of the pile of dead bodies of the predominately poor that he has had liquidated, then he has some cause to celebrate. If it is the number of pushers or users who have surrendered (although some of these are already dead as well), then there is more to celebrate.