Geline Salac

'Traumatic': Families of EJK victims 're-traumatized' on Day 1 of Duterte ICC hearing

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

ABS-CBN News

<p>Several families of victims of extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the Duterte administration underwent a debriefing session after attending the live viewing of the first day of the confirmation of charges hearing of the former president before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, The Netherlands.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hJTx5L0eIh4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>For the mother of one of the victims, there is now a significant chance that she will finally attain justice for the unjust death of her son.</p><p>“Noon wala kaming pag-asa, pero ngayon malaking-malaki ang pag-asa na makakamit namin ang hustisya. Hindi po kami mapapagod, hindi kami mawawalan ng pag-asa. ‘Yung mga pinakita na mga binabaril, totoo ‘yun. Hindi ‘yun pawang kasinungalingan, totoo ‘yun na ginagawa niya,” the victim’s mother said.</p><p>She emphasized that the evidence presented in court against Duterte is truthful and not fabricated.</p><p>“Totoo ‘yung ginawa niya. Hindi pawang kasinungalingan, hindi namin gawa-gawa, siya ang may gawa, si Duterte,” the mother added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XwVPlmK0mQg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Atty. Gian Miko Arabejo, spokesperson for iDefend, a human rights non-governmental organization that initiated the live viewing, noted the debriefing was essential in helping ease the emotional burden carried by the families after watching the hearing.</p><p>“Ang layunin namin sa debriefing ay pababain ang stress levels nila para hindi nila dala-dala ‘yung trauma. Kaya nilang bitawan at kaya nilang magpatuloy sa kanilang buhay kinabukasan,” Arabejo said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qf6Yj2zptIo?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The families were also provided with explanations of the hearing in terms that were easy to understand so they could better follow the proceedings.</p><p>“Mahalaga itong confirmation of charges hearing para maintindihan nung mga biktima, ‘yung mga pamilya nila ano ba ‘yung nangyayari sa ICC. Mahalaga na narito kami ngayong para maintindihan nila sa lenggwahe na alam nila, kasi ang lenggwahe roon ay French at English at hindi naman lahat ay nakakaintindi. Ine-explain namin sa salitang madaling maintindihan, hindi masyadong legalistic, madaling sundan,” Arabejo explained.</p><p>He added: &quot;Essentially ang sinasabi lang naman sa hearing pinasadahan ano ‘yung mga ginawa ni Duterte noong 2016 o before nun nung mayor pa siya hanggang sa naging presidente siya. Ano ‘yung modus operandi nila kung paano na nung mayor pa lang si Duterte ay in-embrace na niya ‘yung criminality at dinala niya ‘yung method nung pagpatay nung nasa Davao pa siya, sa Manila.&quot;</p><p>The lawyer stressed that it is not the duty of police officers to kill.</p><p>Included among the presentations before the ICC was the alleged involvement of police officers in the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), which was reportedly led by former President Duterte.</p><p>“Lahat ng claims nila na self-defense raw ‘yun para maano ang law and order ay hindi po makatotohanan kasi hindi trabaho ng pulis ang pagpatay,” Arabejo stated.</p><p>For iDefend, the confirmation of charges (COC) hearing represents a significant moment for the relatives of the victims, as their voices and appeals are finally being heard.</p><p>“Medyo traumatic din para sa mga biktima kasi nababalikan ‘yung mga masasakit na alaala but on the other hand masaya naman sila kasi for the first time ay nakikinig ang mundo sakanila, nakikinig ang Pilipinas, ang gobyerno sa kanilang storya,” Arabejo said.</p><p>He expressed confidence that the case against Duterte will proceed to trial before the ICC.</p><p>“Inaasahan namin na magpapatuloy ‘yung kaso kasi naniniwala kami malakas ‘yung kaso, malakas ang ebidensya. Tulad nung sinabi ng prosecutor sa ICC kahit tanggalin mo lahat ng speeches ni Duterte malakas pa rin ang ebidensya meron siyang ginawang krimen. Optimistic kami, we look forward to this going to trial,” he said.</p><p>The iDefend organization likewise affirmed that it will continue to support the families of extrajudicial killing victims until the conclusion of the confirmation of charges hearing.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k5DgiTYxZN4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Several families of victims of extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the Duterte administration underwent a debriefing session after attending the live viewing of the first day of the confirmation of charges hearing of the former president before the ICC.</p>

Several families of victims of extrajudicial killings during the drug war of the Duterte administration underwent a debriefing session after attending the live viewing of the first day of the confirmation of charges hearing of the former president before the ICC.