Govt to Catholic Church: Be discerning in giving refuge to ‘cop witnesses’

LEADERS of the Catholic Church should be more discerning in providing refuge for policemen claiming to be witnesses on extrajudicial killings under the government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign, officials said Friday.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella and Maj.Gen. Restituto Padilla, military spokesman, made the statements in connection with the announcement of Lingayen Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, that a number of conscience-stricken policemen sought the Church’s protection and were willing to testify on the killings.