Family and relatives join the inurnment rites of victims of extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war of former President Rodrigo Duterte at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/file

MANILA — Family and supporters on Thursday remembered the victims of killings in the Duterte administration’s drug war by offering flowers and prayers at the cemetery on the eve of All Saints’ Day.

Joralyn Fuellas could not hold back her tears as she visited her husband’s remains at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City on Thursday.

It has been over seven years since he was shot dead by riding-in-tandem assailants in Manila on her birthday. But justice remains elusive, she said.

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“Naiiyak ako kasi hindi pa siya nabibigyan ng katarungan. Walang gustong mag-witness,” Fuellas said.

She is pinning her hopes of getting justice on the International Criminal Court’s investigation into Duterte’s drug war for alleged crimes against humanity.

"Kasi dito parang niluluto. Parang may kinakampihan sila, may pinapaboran, kaya parang ang hirap makamtan ‘yung hustisya rin dito,” Fuellas said.

“Sana kung ano ‘yung dinaranas ng mga anak ko ngayon, ‘yun din ang danasin ng mga anak niya, ng mga apo niya. Kasi ako hirap na hirap ako. Onse ‘yun eh. Pagpapaaral, tumigil na ‘yung apat. Tatlo na lang ‘yung nag-aaral sa akin, kasi hindi na kaya. (11:26) Sana danasin niya lahat ng hirap na dinaranas ng mga taong nabiktima ng tokhang na ‘yun,” she added.

Arsenia Chico was also emotional as she remembered the two sons she lost after they were accused of involvement in illegal drugs. She called for urgency in holding accountable the masterminds behind the killings.

“Napakahirap tanggapin kasi wala talagang kasalanan ‘yung anak ko. Mag-aabroad po ‘yun eh. Nag-aantay na lang… ‘Yun lang talaga ang inaasahan namin para matahimik kami, ‘yung kapayapaan ng puso namin, ‘yung katarungan. Hangga’t buhay pa ‘yung may gawa, sana makamit namin ang katarungan,” Chico said.

A ceremony for their departed loved ones was held at Dambana ng Paghilom on Thursday, while Father Flavie Villanueva offered words of comfort to the families.

More than 40 urns are currently in the memorial site for victims of alleged extrajudicial killings, which can accommodate hundreds more.

“Isinisimbulo na kaya bilog ito, hindi kayo nag-iisa. Yakap at patuloy tayong magyakapan, para makamtan natin ang paghilom, dahil malalim ang sugat na idinulot ni Duterte at ng mga taong inutusan niyang pumatay. Sa usaping paghilom, hindi maaalis ang katarungan,” Villanueva said.

He called for accountability of those behind the bloody drug war, as he expressed concerns with how the Senate panel handled its probe into the issue.

“With what we saw in the Senate, how Duterte was given once again a very favorable platform, plus ‘yung kanyang mga galamay ay nandyan pa upang ang impluwensya mambully, baka hindi mapanagot ang principal heads. That is my worry… Accountability has to begin from the top and not only the low-lying fruits,” Villanueva said.

NO JOKES UNDER OATH

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, he disputed former PNP Chief and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa’s claim that former president Rodrigo Duterte’s statements during the Senate probe last Monday were jokes.

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Duterte had talked at length about instructing police officers to goad drug suspects into fighting back to justify killing them, and said that chiefs of police were part of the Davao Death Squads.

“There could be no joke when you’re under oath. Walang panahon ng pagbibiro, kapag ang usapin ay katotohanan at patungkol sa buhay na pinaslang,” Villanueva said.

“Kung talagang nanlaban, ano ang ebidensya? Gusto kong makita ‘yung 6,000 baril na ginamit ng 6,000 na nanlaban with their corresponding case reports. Kasama doon ‘yung paraffin test ng bawat nanlaban, ‘yung paraffin test ng ginamit na baril,” he added.

Dahlia Cuartero, whose son died in a buy bust operation after allegedly resisting arrest, shares Villanueva’s sentiments.

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“Hindi po ‘yun joke dahil napatunayan namin sa aming mga biktima… ‘yung anak ko tinaniman nila ng baril. Kung hanapin natin ‘yung baril na tinanim sa anak ko, nasaan na ‘yun? Hindi joke ‘yun. Totoo lahat ng pinagsasabi... Under oath po siya eh,” Cuartero said.

She, however, sees a glimmer of hope of in the developments in congressional and ICC investigations into the drug war. Cuartero urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cooperate with the ICC.

“Ang mga kalaban natin mayayayaman, maimpluwensya. Dito sa Pilipinas, makulong lang sandal, pag kaalyado ang nakaupo, makakalabas din talaga. Kaya hirap din ang hustisya dito sa Pilipinas,” Cuartero said.

“Ngayon lang ako naging laman ng kalsada para ipaglaban ang katarungan para sa kanya,” she added.

Villanueva, meanwhile, hopes the succeeding Senate hearings will be more victim-centered.

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