“At 80 years old, you have lived far longer than our children who were killed because of your war on drugs,” a relative of an extrajudicial killing (EJK) victim said on Friday, as families of those slain under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign gathered to demand justice.
While Duterte marked his 80th birthday in custody at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, families of alleged EJK victims held a rally at Liwasang Bonifacio to reiterate their call for accountability.
“Mr. Duterte, nararapat lamang na mabuhay ka pa ng matagal (It is only fitting that you live long),” said Dahlia Cuartero, whose son was killed during Duterte’s administration.
“Marami kaming naghihintay ng hustisya para sa mga mahal naming napaslang noong pangulo ka pa (Many of us are still waiting for justice for our loved ones who were slain while you were president),” she added.
Cuartero emphasized the painful contrast between Duterte’s ability to celebrate his birthday, even while detained, and the irreversible loss suffered by the families of his victims.
Also among the speakers was Emily Soriano, whose teenage son was killed during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Soriano, who shares the same birthday as Duterte, said she marked the day not with celebration but with protest.
“Duterte and I share the same birthday, but our wishes today are different. While he surely wishes for his freedom, I only wish for justice. Duterte’s family is lucky to still have him. But for us, families and victims of the war on drugs, there is no one left to call us ‘Mama’ or ‘Papa’ because they are gone—killed by Duterte’s ‘war on drugs,’” she said.
The families also urged the Philippine government, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to intensify their efforts to investigate the killings and hold all those responsible accountable.
“It is time for the Marcos Jr. government to investigate more thoroughly the drug war killings and assure accountability for such grievous crimes by the many other co-perpetrators in the Philippines,” said Rubylin Litao, coordinator of Rise Up for Life and Rights.
Duterte, arrested on March 11, faces charges of crimes against humanity for alleged widespread and systematic killings targeting the poor during his presidency.