The Threat to the Life of Bishop David is a Threat to All Freedom-Loving Filipinos

The Commission on Human Rights denounces any form of intimidation, harassment and threat to life as an assault to human dignity and freedom.

After receiving multiple death threats, Bishop Pablo David decided to skip the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Awarding ceremony in his and Rappler’s Maria Ressa’s honor last Tuesday, February 26, especially in consideration of the well-being of his companions.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Caloocan, who is also the Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has strongly opposed warrantless arrests and extra-judicial killings attendant to the Administration’s drug war.

Previous statements threatening Bishop David and other bishops with harm, accusing them of pocketing church collections, and ridiculing them publicly may have emboldened some followers to commit atrocious acts, the least of which is to intimidate and threaten our religious leaders. This should be stopped.

We cherish our civil rights and freedoms. Those who disagree with the policies and views of elected government leaders should not be cursed or threatened.

Bishop David, quoting a beautiful line in the Koran, urges us to remember: “To save one human being is to save humanity.”

We remind our public servants and our men in uniform to defend and protect our hard-earned human rights to life, liberty and dignity for all.