A choice between nourishing life and killing people

Have we become a nation of drug suspects and killers? In the 24-hour news cycle, we hear and watch drug suspects being killed one after another. The killings have spurred a mix of reactions. Some are celebrating the death of drug suspects; others are shocked at how they are casually “terminated”; and there are those who fear they could be the next victim in this killing spree.

If 10 drug suspects get killed every day, and this trend continues, then more or less there would be 3,650 drug suspects ending up dead every 12 months. This is outrageous. Horrible! Incomprehensible! Appalling! The killing spree will spread. And soon, all barangays, towns, cities and provinces will have their own unusually high record of killed drug suspects.

Human life is a gift from God; it is, therefore, sacred. Why not promote programs that uphold the sacredness of human life? Why not build more rehabilitation centers for drug suspects? Why not hone their skills in livelihood programs? Why not start crafting policies to fight poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, and the like? Why kill when life is a gift from God and is by nature good?

Have we run out of ideas on how to affirm the sacredness of human life? We cannot achieve a just and lasting peace in this country by killing people.

God save our country!

—REGINALD B. TAMAYO, Marikina City