Photo credit: Congress PH

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante has criticized Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano for describing the Duterte administration’s war on drugs as a pro-life campaign, calling the statement a betrayal of both the Constitution and Christian values.

Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who chairs the House Committee on Human Rights and leads BIBLEMODE International, said labeling the bloody anti-drug campaign as pro-life distorts the meaning of human rights and ignores the thousands of deaths linked to the crackdown.

The Manila lawmaker stressed that public officials cannot simply overlook issues of accountability and due process when discussing the controversial campaign launched under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Let me remind SP Cayetano that we are not a socialist nor a communist country. And he should realize no one can escape accountability,” Abante said.

“We are a nation under God and the Constitution even says that life is sacred. He is supposed to be brilliant, who knows the Constitution,” he added.

The Duterte drug war remains one of the country’s most divisive issues, with victims’ families continuing to seek justice while the International Criminal Court investigates allegations of crimes against humanity tied to the anti-drug campaign.

Abante argued that human rights should not only apply to protecting communities from illegal drugs, but also to safeguarding the lives of suspects and ordinary citizens from unlawful killings.

“He should study the real definition of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Even the United Nations is concerned about,” Abante said.

He also questioned Cayetano’s repeated use of biblical language in defending the anti-drug campaign, saying Christian teachings should also extend compassion and justice to the poor, the accused and grieving families left behind by the violence.

“The irresponsible statement of the SP runs counter even to the Bible that he professes to believe and quote often. This only tells us that if ever Sara becomes president, she will follow in the footsteps of her father,” Abante warned, referring to Vice President Sara Duterte.

Citing Proverbs 6:17, Abante added: “One of the sins God hates according to Proverbs 6:17 is ‘hands that shed innocent blood.’”

While acknowledging the destructive impact of illegal drugs, Abante maintained that killings carried out without legal basis are also human rights violations.

“I agree with SP Cayetano that those involved in the drug trade are human rights violators and a human rights concern but also those who kill without legal basis and due process. Human rights is very much concerned about the use of killing machines in the war on drugs during Duterte’s time,” he said.

Abante said accountability must apply to everyone involved, whether drug syndicates, vigilantes or law enforcers accused of abuses during the campaign.

“Both who are killed because of drugs and the guns whether they’re vigilantes or police are human rights violations. What we are after is accountability and due process,” Abante said.