Kin and friends of victims of “drug-related” killings in the Philippines came out in the streets on the eve of Halloween to “haunt” President Rodrigo Duterte.
They celebrated Mass a few meters from the presidential palace in Manila to dramatize their demand for justice and to remember their departed loved ones.
“[The observance of All Souls’ Day] is a reminder to the families of the victims that there is a future waiting for them,” said Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva of the Society of the Divine Word who led the celebration.
Jesuit priest Albert Alejo also addressed the crowd, saying that remembering those who died is not about numbers. “A person who is killed is not just a number,” he said.
The priest stressed the importance of speaking out, of telling the truth behind the killings, and of seeking justice for those who were killed.
“It is sad if those who are alive keep their silence. Those who died will not be silent,” said Father Alejo. “We are not only condoling with the families but we vow to continue their loving,” he added.
The priests have been involved in a project they dubbed “paghilom,” or “healing,” that aims to help families of victims of the “drug war” through psychosocial and spiritual counselling.
Human rights groups reported that more than 30,000 people have already been killed in the government’s anti-narcotics operations. Authorities, however, said the figure is less than 6,000.
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- Families and friends of victims of alleged drug-related killings in the Philippines gather outside the presidential palace in the Philippine capital Manila on Oct. 30 to celebrate Mass and to dramatize their demand for justice. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- “Paghilom,” or healing, is a program established by Catholic priest Flaviano Villanueva to provide psychosocial and spiritual interventions for family members of victims of the so-called war on drugs. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- A family member prays the rosary before the start of the Mass for the souls of those who died in the Philippines’ so-called war against narcotics. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Jesuit priest Albert Alejo (left), Father Flaviano Villanueva of the Society of the Divine Word (center), and Father Robert Reyes lead the celebration of the Eucahrist. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- The celebration of the Holy Eucharist is offered for those who died in the three-year old “war against drugs” of the Philippine government ahead the observance of All Souls’ Day. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Jesuit priest Albert Alejo urges the faithful to speak the truth about the killings in his homily. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- “The reason we are grieving so much is because [those who died] are not just numbers. A person killed is not just a number. Not just a statistic,” says Father Albert Alejo, SJ. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Family members of victims hold hands as they pray the Lord’s Prayer in this 2019 file photo. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Friends and family members of those who died in the Philippines’ “war against drugs” show their indignation over the killings and their call for justice in this photo taken in 2019. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- A mother of one of the victims of the “drug war” speaks about the last moments of her son. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Family members of victims of the “drug war” join Father Flaviano Villanueva in lighting candles for those who died. (Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Human rights groups claim that at least 30,000 suspected drug users and peddlers have been killed in the Philippine government’s “war” against narcotics. (File Photo by Patricia Leuterio)
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- Families and friends of victims of the Philippine government’s anti-narcotics “war” call for a stop to the killings. (File photo by Patricia Leuterio)
