Philippines: A Decade After Duterte's War on Drugs, Families Seek Justice

The Devastation of the War on Drugs

• 💔 Lori recounts the loss of her two sons, Chrysanto and Juan Carlos, assassinated by death squads during Rodrigo Duterte's "war on drugs."
• 🎯 Duterte's campaign promised to eliminate drug users but resulted in over 30,000 deaths, with many victims being collateral damage or reformed users.
• 📝 Lori's sons had stopped using drugs and had jobs, even surrendering to police as former users, but this seemingly offered no protection and may have led to their deaths.

The Fight for Justice and Accountability

• ✊ Lori, along with other parents, has been fighting for justice and accountability for the extrajudicial executions.
• 🤝 Support groups like Rise Up have assisted over 100 families, providing help with funeral costs and gathering documents like police and autopsy reports.
• ⚖️ Information is being shared with the International Criminal Court (ICC) as Duterte faces charges for crimes against humanity.
• 🔍 Irregularities in official reports, including forged documents and staged crime scenes, highlight the challenges in seeking truth.

Exhumations and Forensic Investigations

• ⛪ Churches and religious communities are playing a role in uncovering the truth, with one community exhuming over 100 bodies.
• 🔬 Forensic examinations of exhumed remains have revealed discrepancies with official reports, such as finding bullets in cases classified as natural deaths or heart attacks.
• 🏥 Victims' remains are examined by forensic doctors to correct death certificates and provide evidence for legal cases.

Impact on Families and Society

• 😔 The war on drugs has destroyed families, with an estimated 20,000 children losing at least one parent.
• trauma Many children witnessed the murder of their parents, leading to lasting psychological effects and difficult life paths.
• 🗣️ Individuals who spoke out against Duterte's policies, like former Senator Leila De Lima, faced imprisonment, showcasing efforts to silence critics.
• 🚫 A former user and dealer shared a harrowing account of police ambushes and the constant fear experienced in poor neighborhoods.

Hope for the Future

• ✨ The arrest of Duterte and ongoing ICC trial offer hope for an end to impunity and a chance for justice for the victims.
• 🕊️ There is a call to recognize drug users not as a plague but as victims, emphasizing their human rights.
• ✊ The ongoing fight is framed as a battle for human rights against the abuse of power, with a determination to ensure these events are never forgotten.