Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, seen here in January, said there is a continuing need for his war on drugs that has left some 7,000 suspected drug users and dealers dead in the past seven months. On Saturday, thousands of people, led by the Roman Catholic Church, took to the streets to protest the war on drugs. The protest was the largest of its kind. Photo by King Rodriguez/EPA
Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Thousands of people took to the Manila streets Saturday in protest of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly anti-drug campaign and efforts to reinstate the death penalty.
Demonstrators walked alongside leaders from the Roman Catholic church for the Walk for Life, marking the largest show of opposition from the church against Duterte's campaign. Church leaders said some 20,000 people attended the march while the government put the attendance at about 10,000.
Up to 7,000 people suspected of dealing or taking drugs have been killed in the past seven months. Up to 80 percent of the population in the Philippines identifies as Catholic.
"We have to stand up. Somehow this is already a show of force by the faithful that they don't like these extrajudicial killings," Bishop Broderick Pabillo said. "I am alarmed and angry at what's happening because this is something that is regressive. It does not show our humanity."
Speaking at the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming Saturday, Duterte underscored the need for continuing his war on drugs. Duterte and other government officials have denied that extra-judicial killings have taken place.
"I need the help of each one, especially the military, not for social control but protection of the citizens from the lawless, the reckless, and the selfish," he said.
