New Development on the Ground: House to House Drug Test
I just came from Payatas today for our regular meeting and Mass with EJK widows and orphans. Thanks to Noel and Tet Medina and kids for visiting us. This week, we welcome three new widows whose husbands were killed recently. We also welcome their children, the new orphans.
Another new development on the ground: barangay officials and purok leaders accompanied by policemen go the rounds of the houses and shanties, pressure people to undergo drug test, and include them in the list. If a house does not have drug users in them, they are cleared. Those who test positive are asked to report to the barangay hall. They now fear for their lives. For you know what happens to those who find themselves in the list.
One remembers the command of the Pharaoh to the midwives of Egypt: go house to house, seek for Israelite boys and report them to him. In our times, this is a grave violation of basic human rights against coercion. But of course, this administration does not believe in human rights! What else is new? May God help us.