CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma described the spate of killings in Metro Cebu as "very alarming" and stressed that life should be respected, a seeming contrast to President Rodrigo Duterte's "order to kill" drug suspects.
On Thursday, October 4, 16 people were killed in drug-related shootings in Metro Cebu including five deaths in Barangay Malubog, Cebu City that were believed to be extrajudicial killings but police described as a "shooting" incident.
The prelate lamented that the killings mar the image of Cebu, which is touted as the cradle of Christianity in the country.
"This is not the way we should project Cebu to other provinces," he said.
He asked the faithful to continue praying the Oratio Imperata to end the killings.
Thursday's killings is the highest death toll in a day in Metro Cebu since Duterte launched his war on drugs in 2016.
Two persons, Antonio Bilandes and Sharmaine Puran, lived to tell the tale of the killings that happened in a remote upland barangay in the city.
The two accused the police for being behind the bloody incident.
Police Regional Office-Central Visayas Director Debold Sinas denied the allegation. (KAL)