MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Church on Friday said the killing of activist priest Marcelito "Tito" Paez, as a reflection of the "deterioration of values and respect of human life" in the country. In a statement, the National Secretariat for Social Action - Justice and Peace/Caritas Philippines of the Catholic Bishops' of the Philippines (NASSA/Caritas Philippines) condemned the killing of Paez as "an attack on the Church and her mission for social justice and empowerment of the poor." The Church noted in its statement that "assailants are suspected to be state security forces or their assets." Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, was careful to brand the killing of the priest as "political." He stressed: "We do not know yet if this is a political killing pursuant to the definition of the Supreme Court on extralegal killings, which is the killing of political activists and the killing of journalists."

Source: Philippine Star December 15, 2017 03:56 UTC