MANILA - The president of De La Salle Philippines has raised the alarm over the spate of killings under the new administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bro. Jose Mari Jimenez on Thursday issued a pastoral letter wherein he called on members of the Lasallian educational communities to speak up against the rising cases of drug and crime-related killings.

He said the absence of significant public outcry against the "blatant contempt for the human life and the rule of law" is very alarming.

"This disregard for the inalienable value of human life and the public silence that gives tacit support for such disregard does not bode well for the vision of a just and humane society enshrined in our Constitution," Jimenez said.

He added that the country cannot expect a just and peaceful society without a culture that respects life.

Citing Saint John Paul II's 1987 encyclical "Sollicitudo rei socialis" (The social concern), the Lasallian brother explained that pursuing the common good should not go against respecting the fundamental rights of any member of the society.

"What is needed to create a better society is that all cooperate in insuring the promotion of each one's dignity, rights and responsibilities without exception," he said.

Jimenez said that although he support the administration's crackdown on criminality, drug addiction, and corruption, he said this must be done within the framework of law and the principles of human dignity.

He urged the Lasallian community to "critically engage civil authorities to insure that effective solutions to these social ills be pursued in the just and right way."

The official said educators must teach the young people to uphold human dignity and care for the young and the poor.

"Let us not allow violence to rule us but in every circumstance be vigilant and zealous in upholding the dignity and rights of all as befits responsible citizens and followers of Christ," he said.

There have been at least 522 drug-related fatalities from May 10 to July 21, 2016.

READ: MAP, CHARTS: The Death Toll of the War on Drugs

Some members of the Catholic leadership have warned against extrajudicial killings in dealing with criminality.

READ: Cebu archbishop: Punish according to law, don't kill drug suspects