Palma backs legal forms vs. drugs

Prelate urges public to assist surrenderers as ‘these are the people who cry out for help’

THE Archdiocese of Cebu said it is supportive of all legal processes to resolve crimes and illegal drugs, amid the ongoing Senate hearing on suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa.

In an interview yesterday, Archbishop Jose Palma, who credits the administration’s serious fight against illegal drugs, said he hopes that the prosecution would bring about good results.

“The administration has made us aware of how serious the problem is. As we often say, the drug problem is the mother of many crimes. We leave to the competence of the Senate and other authorities the right obligation to really undergo, or rather, create and have a process that would ascertain who is guilty and therefore, face the consequences of their crime,” he said.

Palma pointed out that the prosecution of the guilty would also give a message on stopping the “menace in society” to those who are still involved in the illegal drug trade.

The involvement in such a “disastrous and sad way to kill and destroy life” is something everyone should not only feel sad, but also mad about, he said.

The archbishop also commended the thousands of drug surrenderers for accepting having been users and pushers and wanting to change for good.

“We also invite and challenge the community to assist and help these people. In a sense, these are the people who cry out for help. I am sure there are ways we can help them to journey and tack towards a decent life and experience healing and of course eventually embark on certain activities that will make life meaningful,” said Palma.

As for the surrender of Senator Leila De Lima’s former bodyguard, Ronie Dayan, the archbishop declined commenting on the matter until a decision by the authorities is given.

He explained that not knowing the degree of the truth behind Dayan’s statements on him receiving drug payoff to support De Lima’s senatorial bid gives enough reason to reserve any comment.