In the hearts of many Filipinos

Kian Loyd delos Santos

Kian Lloyd delos Santos —PHOTO FROM KIAN’S FACEBOOK

On Aug. 16, 2017, Kian was dragged by police men near his home in Caloocan, as revealed by CCTV footage in GMA Public Affairs’ video.

“It would have been okay if they did kill an addict who had a gun, but they killed an innocent child. And to think, he wanted to be a policeman,” his father Saldy delos Santos told Rappler.

In three months, the Caloocan Regional Trial Court convicted police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder and sentenced to at least 30 years, with no chance of parole.

Chad Errol Booc 

Chad Errol Booc —PHOTO FROM CHAD’S FACEBOOK

Chad, a volunteer Lumad school teacher, was arrested without a warrant for “training students to join the New People’s Army (NPA)” by the police at the Talaban campus of the University of San Carlos in New Bataan, Davao De Oro. He was killed with Kevin Castro, Gelejurain Ngujo II, Elegyn Balonga, Tirso Añar, and Robert Aragon.

"Chad was not only a staunch defender of the rights of the Lumad people. He wholeheartedly immersed himself in marginalized communities to learn from them and serve them to the best of his abilities,” UP Diliman said in a statement.

Nercy Galicio 

 Nercy Galicio’s wake —PHOTO FROM ABS-CBN NEWS

Nercy was found dead in Navotas wearing Hello Kitty socks. She was kidnapped, raped, and shot three times in the head by three unknown men. The only recorded clue to her killer is a masked man on a motorbike. 

Aldrin Pineda 

Aldrin Pineda’s mother holding his school ID —PHOTO FROM RAPPLER

Aldrin, 13, was playing with two friends when he was shot inside the Vitas Slaughterhouse in Tondo on March 2, 2018. “Pa binaril ako. Pa, pulis,” Aldrin said as his family rushed him to the hospital before he died the next day. Police officer Omar Malinao surrendered to the Manila Police District (MPD), admitting that he had “accidentally pulled the trigger after falling down.” 

Crisanto Lozano and Juan Carlos Lozano 

Llore Pasco protesting with other EJK victim’s families —PHOTO FROM BULATLAT

On May 11, 2017, Crisanto and his younger brother, Juan Carlos, went missing. The next day, they were found dead in a police operation, accused of an alleged “hold up.” Their mother, Llore Pasco, now part of Rise Up for Life and for Rights, was among the first to submit testimonies to the International Criminal Court about the bloody drug war. 

She stated, “Umiiyak po ako dahil masaya dahil nahuli na nga si Duterte. Napakaswerte niya po dahil siya ay binigyan ng karapatan upang ipagtanggol ang kaniyang sarili, ngunit sa amin pong mahihirap na mga biktima, wala pong binigay na ganoong karapatan.”

Angelito Soriano 

Emily Soriano holding Angelito’s picture —PHOTO FROM AP NEWS

On Dec. 28, 2016, Angelito, 15, along with six others were killed by armed masked men looking for a drug suspect in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City.  After Duterte’s arrest, Emily Soriano stood before the press at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City, “Hindi po ako kuntento na si Duterte lang po ‘yung mananagot, dapat po lahat po ng kasangkot ni Duterte [...] Buti pa si Duterte may due process, ‘yung mga anak ko na pinaslang, ‘yung anak ko, wala pong due process.” 

A glimmer of hope to victims

On March 12, the loved ones of the victims gathered at the Dambana ng Paghilom in Caloocan City, where they placed the ashes of their family members in a columbarium. On the same day, a press conference at the UCCP Chapel in Quezon City was held for families and their legal counsel to urge the government to uphold due process.

Meanwhile, individuals from all walks of life united in a nationwide protest themed “Duterte Panagutin! Hustisya sa mga Biktima ni Duterte!” in Metro Manila, Iloilo, Laguna, Cebu, Baguio, and Mindanao.

As the country awaits the next hearing for Duterte’s confirmation of charges, the families of the victims continue to demand justice for their loved ones.