Urns of 5 more ‘EJK victims’ laid to rest at Dambana ng Paghilom

Five more urns of alleged victims of extrajudicial killings (EJK) were laid to rest at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Catholic Cemetery, Caloocan City, on Friday just days before the confirmation of charges in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands.

Fr. Fravie Villanueva said the rites form part of the "healing journey" of families who have lost their loved ones. "To remember their names is to declare that they are not statistics but lives lost during the war on drugs." 

Villanueva said the bullying has not stopped even after the victims have been put to rest.

"Patuloy pa ang pag-uusig, binabalikan sila, Hinuhuli ang [ilan sa kanilang] mahal sa buhay,"said Fr. Villlanueva.

(The persecution continues, some of their loved ones are being arrested.)

Program Paghilom has been helping widows and orphans of victims of drug-related EJKs for the inurnment and burial of the remains of their loved ones.

Meanwhile, the confirmation of charges in Duterte’s case before the ICC will start on Monday, February 23. —VAL, GMA Integrated News