20
Philippine Showbiz Today
July 22 - August 7, 2016
Musicians’ group
decries rise in
extrajudicial killings
The League of Authors of
Public Interest Songs (LAPIS)
decried the recent rise in
extrajudicial killings brought
on by the campaign against
illegal drugs and criminality
by the new administration
of
Pres.
Rodrigo
Duterte.
“Stop it! However you may
put it, the fact remains that the new
administration has contributed to
creating this environment that
encouraged the recent spate of
extrajudicial killings. Summary
executions have already claimed
numerous lives. This has to stop!”
the group led by singers Chickoy
Pura, Gary Granada, Cooky Chua,
Bayang Barrios, and Lolita Carbon
said in a statement on Monday.
“This impunity, this situation
is dangerous!” LAPIS said. “It will
encourage criminal minds to use
the situation to their benefit. They
can also practically kill anyone,
their victims for example, and
put markings associating them
[with] drug users or pushers
and justifying the murder. Soon
enough, maybe even activists
who are critical of those in power
may fall victim to this scheme.”
LAPIS
continued,
“This
matter lies at the heart of
everything we stand for as public
interest musicians. We find it
our compelling duty to the people
and to the followers of our music
to speak up on the issue and stand
up against this killing spree.”
The group clarified that it
supports the importance of curbing
the problem of illegal drugs.
“Don’t get us wrong, we
support without any doubt the
efforts to arrest the drug problem in
[the] country. It is public interest to
eradicate the drug menace,” it said.
“We
however
challenge
the new administration to
actively address the issue of
these
extra-judicial
killings,
unravel the truth behind these
killings, hold the perpetrators
accountable and go instead for
the root causes of the problem,
including apprehending the big
drug lords and their protectors.
“We
join
groups
in
condemning the killing spree and
LAPIS offi cers (clockwise from right) Chickoy Pura, Gary Granada, and Bayang Barrios, Cooky
Chua, and Lolita Carbon. (Chickoy Pura photo by Jigs Tenorio)
this culture of impunity. We urge the in safeguarding people’s rights.”•
Filipino public to remain vigilant
- Interaksyon