Relatives of EJK Victims Renew Call for Justice, Hope for More Arrests

Relatives of victims of extrajudicial killings turned emotional as they gathered for the inurnment of their 18 loved ones at the Dambana ng Paghilom (Shrine of Healing) in La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc The solemn ceremony served as both a moment of mourning and a renewed call for justice, following the International Criminal Court’s arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is now awaiting trial in The Hague, Netherlands. “Matatanggap na ng anak ko ang hustisya niya. Hindi lang sa anak ko, kundi sa iba niyang pinagpapatay na tao,” said Crispin Cena, whose son was killed in Duterte’s bloody drug war. “Gusto ko mangyari rin sa kanya ang ginawa niya sa anak ko. Marami siyang pinapatay,” added Gloria de Jesus. “Kulang pa rin ang buhay niya para sa amin, kasi sa dami namin. Katulad ng asawa ko, di naman adik. Di naman addict lahat iyan,” Maria Tion said. While they admitted that the trial process will take a long time, they believe that Duterte’s arrest was a significant first step towards achieving justice for the deaths of their loved ones. They also expressed hope that others responsible for the extrajudicial killings would be held [...]