Leila de Lima

CALL FOR JUSTICE

December 13, 2023 People's Journal 313 views

WITHOUT justice, there can be no genuine and complete healing.”

This is the statement made by Former Sen. Leila De Lima to families of victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the bloody drug war of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the groundbreaking of the first Memorial Site for EJK victims, aptly named “Dambana ng Paghilom.”

“Indeed, with this memorial site, the ‘Dambana ng Panghilom,’ with our solidarity and with God’s grace, we start the healing of the families of the EJK victims,” De Lima, jailed during the administration of Duterte, said.

But it is clear, she added, that no healing can be complete without justice, “That’s why we will continue to fight for justice and push for the International Criminal Court’s continued investigation on the bloody drug war of Rodrigo Duterte, and to hold him, his cohorts and enablers, accountable.”

“Ipinakulong po ako nang halos pitong taon sa mga gawa-gawang paratang dahil sa pagkontra ko sa peke at madugong War on Drugs ng nakaraang rehimen,” De Lima said.

“Kahit po ako ay nasa piitan, patuloy ko po itong nilabanan. Despite my ordeals, I consider myself fortunate that I am still alive, unlike the victims of EJKs. These are lost lives. Lost dreams. Lost opportunities. Mga naulilang pamilya. Mga naglahong kinabukasan,” she added.

The Dambana ng Paghilom will be built inside an empty plot in the La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan and is meant to house the ashes of victims of EJKs under the Duterte administration. It will be a 36-square meter bloc, with a big lighted cross in the middle and 600 vaults that can house four to six urns.

Filipinos died during the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said his administration is seriously thinking of rejoining the ICC, which Duterte unilaterally left during his presidency.

“Let us all pray for accountability, for justice, and for healing. Patuloy po nating ipagdasal ang pamilya ng mga biktima ng EJK, ang kanilang pagbangon, at ang pagkamit ng isang patas at makatarungang bukas para sa lahat, ng isang lipunan na may paggalang at pagpapahalaga sa dignidad, buhay at karapatang-pantao ng bawat isa,” De Lima said.

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