The Catholic Church Is The Face Of Resistance To Duterte’s Brutal Drug War In The Philippines (HBO)

Summary

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war has resulted in over 7,000 deaths, prompting the Catholic Church and other faith groups to speak out against the violence. A group called 'Rise Up' is actively opposing the killings, offering financial aid and legal support to victims' families. Despite the Church's recent condemnation, there's a divide among its members, with some supporting Duterte's approach. The group assists families in raising funds for funerals, which are a financial burden, and provides shelter to those in danger, like a survivor of the Cowan Massacre, where seven teenagers were killed.

Takeaways

• 😔 The brutal drug war under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has resulted in over 7,000 deaths.
• 🙏 After the killing of a South Korean businessman, Duterte apologized and suspended the drug war, but killings persisted.
• 🗣️ The Catholic Church and other faith groups are now speaking out against the violence and attempting to resist.
• 👨‍🏫 Father Gilbert Bala's sermon challenges Duterte's approach, advocating for treatment and love instead of condemnation.
• 🤝 A group named 'Rise Up' is actively opposing the killings, providing financial aid and documentation of the incidents.
• 💔 The cost of funerals in the Philippines is a significant burden for families of the victims, often leading to debt.
• 🏙️ In Caloocan City, 11 people were killed in a single week, highlighting the severity of the situation.
• 🔒 Survivors of the drug war, like 'Ryan,' are in hiding, fearing for their lives if they were to be found.
• 🏛️ The Catholic Church's official opposition to Duterte's drug war is significant given the Philippines' Catholic majority.
• 🤔 There is a noted division among church leaders regarding the drug war, with some supporting Duterte and others condemning the violence.

Q & A

What is the main issue addressed in the transcript?

The transcript addresses the brutal drug war in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte, which has resulted in over 7,000 deaths, and the subsequent resistance and efforts by the Catholic Church and other faith groups to speak out against the killings.

Why did President Duterte apologize and suspend the drug war offensive?

President Duterte apologized and formally suspended the drug war offensive after the news emerged that a South Korean businessman had been killed by police in October.

Who is Father Gilbert Bala and what is his stance on the drug war?

Father Gilbert Bala is a priest who actively opposes the killings in Duterte's drug war. He emphasizes that those addicted to drugs should be seen as patients needing cure and love, not as criminals deserving condemnation.

What is the mission of the group 'Rise Up' mentioned in the transcript?

The group 'Rise Up' is a network of clergy and community organizers whose mission is to stand for human rights, provide financial aid to victims, and most importantly, document the killings during the drug war.

How does the transcript describe the financial burden on families of the victims in the drug war?

The transcript describes the financial burden on families of the victims as significant, with funerals in the Philippines being incredibly expensive. It mentions that families need to raise around 7,000 pesos, which is about $1,500, a sum that can put a family in debt for life.

What is the 'Cokan Massacre' referred to in the transcript?

The 'Cokan Massacre' is a tragedy where 11 people were killed in a single week in Cow Oen City, including a 16-year-old boy named Sunny and six of his friends who were shot dead at a birthday party by suspected vigilantes.

Why did the Catholic Church initially remain silent on the drug war?

The transcript does not explicitly state why the Catholic Church remained silent initially, but it does highlight that the Church has now voiced official opposition to what it calls the 'reign of terror' of Duterte's drug war.

What influence does the Catholic Church have in the Philippines according to the transcript?

The transcript indicates that the Catholic Church has a significant influence in the Philippines, as it is one of the most Catholic countries in the world.

What is the attitude of some priests towards the drug war and the killings, as portrayed in the transcript?

The transcript portrays a range of attitudes among priests towards the drug war and the killings. Some are unsure of their position, some condone the killings but believe the president has good intentions, while others appear to be in favor of the killings, thinking there is no other solution.

What is the role of 'Rise Up' volunteers in protecting people like Ryan, who survived the Cokan Massacre?

Rise Up volunteers play a crucial role in protecting people like Ryan, who survived the Cokan Massacre, by taking personal risks to shelter them in secret locations, ensuring their safety until they can be interviewed or find a way to live without the threat of being killed.

What is the current status of the fight for justice for the victims of the drug war, as described in the transcript?

The transcript concludes that while 'Rise Up' has helped the families of the Cokan Massacre victims to get to the point of burying their children, their fight for justice has only just begun.

Outlines

00:00

🕊️ Catholic Church's Stance on Duterte's Drug War

The Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war has resulted in over 7,000 deaths, including a South Korean businessman in October. Despite Duterte's apology and suspension of the campaign, the violence continued. The Catholic Church and other faith groups have started to speak out against the killings. Father Gilbert Bala, representing a network of clergy and community organizers, opposes the killings, viewing drug users as patients rather than criminals. A group called 'Rise Up' has formed to document the killings, provide financial aid to victims, and support families. They face the challenge of raising funds for funerals, which are costly in the Philippines. The group has grown rapidly as the death toll rises. The script also mentions the 'Cow Oen City' where 11 people were killed in a single week, and the story of a mother, Maria Espinosa, whose son was killed in the 'Cokan Massacre'. The Catholic Church's recent official opposition to the drug war is highlighted, questioning why it took over 7,000 deaths for the Church to speak out.

05:02

🗣️ Mixed Reactions Within the Church Towards the Drug War

This paragraph delves into the mixed reactions within the Catholic Church towards Duterte's drug war. While some priests are unsure of their stance and believe the president has good intentions, others openly condone the killings, viewing them as a necessary solution. The Church's official condemnation of the killings comes late, after a significant number of deaths. The narrative follows Maria Espinosa and other families affected by the 'Cokan Massacre' as they prepare for the burial of their children. The group 'Rise Up' continues to support these families in their quest for justice, indicating that their struggle is far from over. The paragraph ends with a reflection on the value of human life and the significance of the Church's delayed response to the drug war's atrocities.

Keywords

💡Drug War

The 'Drug War' refers to the aggressive campaign led by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to combat illegal drugs by targeting drug dealers and users. The term is central to the video's theme, illustrating the violent and controversial methods used, which have resulted in over 7,000 deaths. The video discusses the human rights implications and the resistance against these methods.

💡Extrajudicial Killings

Extrajudicial killings are deaths caused by law enforcement or vigilantes without a formal legal trial. This concept is crucial in the video as it highlights the unlawful killings that have occurred during the drug war, often targeting drug suspects without due process. The video mentions the Catholic Church and human rights groups speaking out against these killings.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. The video emphasizes the violation of these rights in the context of Duterte's drug war, where the focus is on the killings and the lack of justice for the victims. Human rights groups like 'Rise Up' are portrayed as advocating for the protection and documentation of these rights.

💡Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is a significant religious institution in the Philippines, and its stance on social issues carries weight. The video discusses the Church's late but growing opposition to the drug war, indicating a shift in societal attitudes. The Church's official condemnation of the 'reign of terror' is a pivotal moment in the narrative.

💡Rise Up

'Rise Up' is a network of clergy and community organizers mentioned in the video that actively opposes the killings in the drug war. They provide financial aid to victims, offer counseling, and document the killings. The group's activities exemplify grassroots resistance and support for the victims' families.

💡Vigilantes

Vigilantes are individuals who take the law into their own hands, often outside the formal legal system. The video references suspected vigilantes killing people, such as the tragic incident at a birthday party, which underscores the lawlessness and violence that has permeated society during the drug war.

💡Funeral Costs

The high cost of funerals in the Philippines is a significant burden for families of the victims, as highlighted in the video. The financial strain is so severe that it can lead to lifelong debt. The video shows how families resort to fundraising through gaming tables to cover these expenses.

💡Cokan Massacre

The 'Cokan Massacre' is a specific event mentioned in the video where 11 people were killed in a single week in Cow Oen City. This incident is used to illustrate the scale and brutality of the drug war's impact on communities and the urgency of the fight for justice.

💡Mercy

Mercy is a theme that emerges in the video, particularly in the context of the Catholic Church's mission. It contrasts with the harsh and unforgiving approach of the drug war, suggesting a more compassionate and understanding response to drug addiction and its victims.

💡Resistance

Resistance in the video refers to the actions taken by individuals and groups to oppose the drug war and its methods. This includes the efforts of 'Rise Up' and the Catholic Church to provide support, documentation, and advocacy for victims and their families.

Highlights

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war has resulted in over 7,000 deaths.

A South Korean businessman was killed by police, prompting Duterte to apologize and suspend the offensive.

Despite the suspension, killings continued, and faith groups are now speaking out against the violence.

Father Gilbert Bala's sermon challenges Duterte's approach, advocating for treatment and love over condemnation.

Clergy and community organizers are among the first to actively oppose the killings.

Human rights groups are documenting the killings to ensure there will be a record of events.

The group 'Rise Up' is dedicated to standing for human rights and providing financial aid to victims.

The death toll has grown, and so has the network of supporters for groups like 'Rise Up'.

Funeral costs in the Philippines are incredibly expensive, causing financial burdens for victim's families.

Families are raising money for funerals through community gaming tables and other means.

In Caloocan City, 11 people were killed in a single week, highlighting the severity of the situation.

The 'Cokan Massacre' involved the killing of 16-year-old Sunny and six friends at a birthday party by suspected vigilantes.

Ryan, a survivor of the Cokan Massacre, is in hiding and being sheltered by 'Rise Up' volunteers.

The Catholic Church has recently voiced official opposition to Duterte's 'reign of terror' in the drug war.

The Philippines, being one of the most Catholic countries, gives significant weight to the Church's stance.

Some church leaders are unsure of their position regarding the killings, reflecting internal divisions.

There are differing views among the clergy, with some supporting the killings as a solution to the drug problem.

The families of the Cokan Massacre are fighting for justice, with 'Rise Up' playing a crucial support role.

Transcripts

Philippine president Rodrigo duarte's

brutal drug war has taken the lives of

more than 7,000 people after news

emerged that a South Korean businessman

had been killed by police in October

duterte apologized and formerly

suspended the offensive but the killings

of continued anyway and now the Catholic

church and other Faith groups are

finally speaking out and trying to fight

back

[Music]

this is what resistance looks like in

the age of du's drug war there are so

many drug dependents now in our parties

who are trying hard to really change

their life we saw these people as

patient not as criminal the message may

not seem controversial but father

Gilbert bala's sermon is a direct swipe

at president duterte what they need is

cure and love not

condemnation not

father Gilbert is part of a small but

growing network of clergy and Community

organizers who were among the first to

actively oppose the killings so what's

your message to those who are carrying

out these killings human rights GRS are

documenting of all what that

happen and there would be a time of

record they call themselves rise up

their mission is to stand for human

rights give financial aid to victims and

most importantly to document the

killings they form just 3 months ago

with about eight people but as the death

toll sword so did the group's network of

supporters Nardi Sabino helps families

take legal

[Music]

action Aon capus offers counseling to

victim's families

we wanted to assure them that they are

not alone and they're not just simply

facts figures that people can just

simply kill them and that's the end of

the

story one of the most difficult burdens

for the victim's families in this drug

war is the cost of burying the dead

funerals in the Philippines are

incredibly expensive this family needs

to raise around 7,000 pesos that's about

$1,500 that's the kind of sum that can

put a family in debt for life so they

set up gaming tables of the weake where

people are playing cards with Bingo for

money and a percentage of those winnings

goes to the family so they can raise the

money that they

need these days funeral wakes are

happening constantly across Manila but

few places have seen more than here in

cow oen City where 11 people were killed

in a single week Maria Espinosa is one

of the victim's mothers

her 16-year-old son sunny and six of his

friends were all shot dead at a birthday

party by suspected Vigilantes a tragedy

now known as the C okan

Massacre seven were killed that night

this young man survived and is currently

in hiding Ryan not his real name was

shot twice and played dead until the

gunman had left

[Music]

Ryan is a definite Target we interviewed

him at a secret location where rise up

volunteers have been Sheltering him if

he was still on the streets he'd almost

certainly be dead by now are you scared

[Music]

for months rise up volunteers have been

taking huge personal risks to protect

people like this but until now the

church as a whole has remained

silent in recent days the Catholic

Church here voiced official opposition

to what it called the reign of terror of

duterte's drug war what the church says

has a great deal of influence the

Philippines is one of the most Catholic

countries in the world what's not clear

is why it took more than 7,000 deaths

for this to happen we came to one of the

largest Gatherings of church leaders to

find out Mercy is our mission our Mercy

is Mercy but while this event was held

just days before the church announced

condemnation of the killings it was easy

to find priests unsure of their position

do you condone the killings no we don't

we don't I think the the president like

everybody else has all the good

intentions do you think the church is

doing

enough uh it's doing enough but not

really enough we can do

more others here appeared to be in favor

of the killings we agree with the

president because there is no other

solution we were surprised because we

did realize that the gravity of the

problem now yes now yes so the attitudes

are changing now I said I think so it's

taken more than 6,000 deaths for this to

happen even a single human life is very

important but if you to make some

scientific uh proportion that's small if

you think of that's if you think of

scientific proportion 4 milon 6,000 is

not meanwhile back in Manilla Maria

Espinosa and the other families of the

cokan massacre are preparing to bury

their

children and while rise up have helped

them get to this point their fight for

justice has only just begun

a