Palma denies coddling drug suspects

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma has explained that accepting a suspected drug courier who survived a shooting incident at the archbishop’s residence in Cebu City does not directly imply that the local clergy is coddling drug suspects.

He added that giving refuge to an alleged criminal is not in any way to “exonerate their sin.”

Palma said providing sanctuary to a person whose life is under threat is the Church’s will to “protect human life.”

“Kon aduna’y mangayo og tabang tungod kay nahadlok sila sa ilang kinabuhi (If there is any person who asks for help since he fears for his life), the Church has been and will always be a sanctuary,” he told reporters on Thursday after the morning Mass he celebrated at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.

“For us (churchmen), we only provide sanctuary to people who ask for help so that they will feel safe and the Church has always been doing those through centuries. The Church has always been protector of lives,” he added.

The Cebu Church leader emphasized that human life is “precious” and should be protected.

The catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred and God-given, thus killings and murders are highly condemned.

If indeed the suspects have committed crime, Palma said it is for the government to prosecute them but through legal means.

The Cebu archdiocese earlier provided pastoral sanctuary for suspected drug courier Sharmaine Puran to which some people criticized as it seems that the Church is now protecting drug suspects.

Puran was one of the two survivors in an alleged salvage incident in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City on October 4. Both identified the police as the assailants.

After Puran was discharged from hospital on October 6, she refused to be under police’s protection. Instead, she sought refuge in a church and was allowed to stay at the archbishop's residence.

“Now it can be told. We have entrusted her to CHR,” Palma said.

The regional Commission on Human Rights office has earlier admitted of taking custody of the survivor. (FREEMAN)