'Huwag kang papatay' banners up in Pangasinan churches

PANGASINAN – Churches in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan have put up banners with the words "Huwag kang papatay (Do not kill)" in response to killings allegedly done around the country, but a Church official clarified that these were not hung as a protest against the administration's war against illegal drugs.

According to Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the white canvas banners with red palm prints surrounding the statement based on the fifth commandment "Thou shall not kill" do not only refer to killings involving alleged drug users or pushers.

Killing does not benefit anyone, Villegas said, as both the victim and the killer need the grace of God. The Church's call concerns all forms of social injustice.

"Ang pagpatay ay hindi lamang sa bala (Killings are not only done with bullets)," Villegas said, and added that there are mothers who leave their own children to die, employers who do not give their employees enough pay, people who exploit the poor, and sexual perverts who take advantage of their prey.

"Ang lahat ng ito ay dahan-dahang pagpatay sa pagkatao ng bawat isa sa atin (Our humanity is slowly being killed by all of these)," he said.

In support of the Church's call, online youth community Kabataang Katoliko also launched a social media campaign featuring contributions from teens wearing a sign with the call to refrain from killing.

According to Father Jeffrey Segovia, the community's founder, the call is a reminder for the youth to be careful with their choices.

"Kailangan nilang ingatan iyong buhay [nila]. 'Huwag kang papatay' is also a wake-up call na [umiwas sa] bisyo. Kasi kapag nagbisyo ka, pinapatay natin ang ating sarili (The youth should take care of their lives. 'Do not kill' is also a wake-up call to stay away from vices. If they succumb, they also kill themselves)," Segovia said.

On September 14, the Archdiocese proclaimed a special day of prayer and fasting, and held a Mass for those who have died in alleged encounters with vigilantes and police. The victims' families were invited to attend.

Church bells in the province will also be rung from September 14 to 21 in observance of "De Profundis" or moment of prayer for the dead.

The bell ringing, said a Church circular, is "an appeal to conscience" and is "not a threat of death for the offenders, but a call to return to the peace of the Lord by spiritual reform."

The faithful are invited to pause, pray, and remember the dead once they hear the bells, Villegas said.