German parliamentarian visits EJK victims’ families

A German lawmaker paid a visit and promised support to the families of victims of drug killings and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte, Jun Veneracion reported on “24 Oras” on Wednesday.

“It is very courageous of all these strong women to speak up and call out the injustice,” Gabriele Katzmarek, chairperson of the Bundestag's Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with ASEAN States, said at the meeting held in Sta. Cruz, Manila. “We have been supporting you and we will continue to support you.”

Among those who spoke up about the demise of their loved ones in Duterte's drug war was “Christine” (not her real name), who was only 12 years old when her father was killed inside their home in Caloocan City in 2017.

“Kinakausap po kami ng mga pulis hanggang sa pinatalikod po kami. Doon na nila pinutukan papa ko nang apat na beses noon. Dinala po siya sa funeral [home], ang dami po niyang tama ng bala. Hindi na po sila nakuntento ng apat  na putok,” she said.

(The police were talking to us, then they had us turn our backs. That was when they shot my father four times. When we brought him to the funeral home, it turned out there were many more gunshot wounds. They did not stop at four.)

“Leah” recalled how her husband was found dead under a bridge in 2016, but his death certificate stated otherwise.

“Katulad po sa death certificate niya, iba po kasi ang lumabas.  Dineclare po nila na leukemia, hindi naman po,” she said.

(His death certificate stated he died of leukemia, but that’s not true.)

Forensic pathologist Racquel Fortun shared her findings on some remains, where ammunition was found inside the bodies even though their death certificates claimed they died of natural causes. Fortun said she has taken up the issue with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

READ: DOJ vows probe after expert says some drug war death certificates faked

“Dapat habulin at the minimum 'yung doctor. Pumirma ka eh... habulin 'yan lahat ng nakapirma doon,” she added.  (We should go after the doctors, at the minimum. They signed the death certificates. We should go after everyone who signed off on them.)

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the DOJ and the Philippine National Police for comment. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News