Groups protest revival of Tokhang, death penalty

Members of Christian groups in Cebu expressed their opposition on the revival of the police’s Oplan Tokhang program and the proposed implementation of the death penalty.

Religious and youth organizations gathered at the Fuente Osmeña Circle just before sundown yesterday to protest what they considered the “culture of death.”

Niño Olayvar of Anakbayan Cebu told SunStar Cebu that aside from cause-oriented groups, they have tapped the help of religious groups, such as the Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) and others, to help in their campaign against the administration’s controversial war against illegal drugs.

For religious leaders present during the rally, the death penalty is no way to go for the country.

Bishop Jezer Bertoldo of UCCP told SunStar Cebu that his group condemned the act of Congress in reviving the death penalty, and the numerous unexplained deaths attributed to Duterte’s war against drugs.

Bertoldo, jurisdictional area bishop of UCCP West Visayas, said his church also refused to field their pastors to join the police’s Oplan Tokhang operations.

“It is not the role of the pastors, but of the police to hold Oplan Tokhang operations. Our job is to promote peace and life,” Bertoldo added.

In Cebu, there are 80 pastors under the UCCP. /

SUNSTAR FOTO / ARNI ACLAO PROTEST RALLY. Members of cause-oriented groups hold a rally in Fuente Osmeña rotunda to protest the revival of Oplan Tokhang program and the government’s plan to implement the death penalty.