Almost nine years after surviving a shooting, Maximo Garcia Jr., a 60-year-old resident of Sitio Camanggaan, Barangay Mayombo in Dagupan City, still waits for justice for the death of his five-year-old granddaughter.

He believes he was the target of Operation Tokhang that killed his granddaughter in 2016 during the time of President Rodrigo Duterte.

On August 23, 2016, Garcia was resting outside his home when he noticed two men on a motorcycle.

“Pagtapat niya sa akin, binunot ‘yung baril... tumakbo ako sa loob, binaril ako,” he said.

He was shot four times, with bullets hitting his side and lower back.

One of the bullets hit his granddaughter, Danica, who was taking a bath inside their house at the time. She died.

Despite the attack, Garcia managed to escape and was rushed to the hospital.

Now, years later, he maintains that he was never involved in selling illegal drugs.

“Wala ako rekord dito sa barangay namin na ako’y involved sa drugs. Pero inaamin ko, gumagamit ako noon, matagal na,” he admitted.

His family, struggling with financial difficulties, has not been able to pursue legal action.

“Hindi namin natanggap ‘yung katarungan ng apo ko. Pagkamatay ng apo ko saka ‘yung nangyari sa akin. Kaya pinasa-Diyos na lang namin,” Garcia said.

Following the recent arrest of Duterte for crimes against humanity linked to his drug war, Garcia gave a simple response:

“Bahala na ang batas diyan. Kasi kung ano ‘yung nararapat sa tao na ‘yun, batas na lang ang ano dun. Justice na lang,” he said.