Rising above hate in the pursuit of justice for drug war victims

The recent arrest and detention of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has rekindled and reinvigorated the hope of the families of victims of the war on drugs as well as people who long for justice in solidarity with the victims.

Catholic church people and institutions have offered statements of support as they welcome the step toward accountability. The archbishop of Davao, Romulo G. Valles D.D., has called on Filipinos to “reject hatred and division.”

That is a timely advice amid the proliferation of fake news; the bashing of families of the victims of the war on drugs and their counsel, particularly lawyer Krissy Conti, has been receiving; and spamming on an ICC judge’s social media account. The hatred is severe, it becomes hurtful and destructive.

It is helpful to ponder on the killings of the poor, which revealed how hatred has translated into a command of “kill, kill, kill” by the former president. The hatred spelled 7,000 deaths according to police reports, while human rights groups claimed about 30,000 were killed.

Hate is so institutionalized in an unjust system. Hate is when the poor cannot seek justice under a government that shows no compassion and killings happen with impunity.

Hate is when a rich man never pays attention to the needs of the poor. Lazarus in the story of Jesus began with: “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple.” (Luke 16:19-31). The rich man was so blinded by his wealth that he never took a moment to look at the poor. Hate is when the master exploiter and murderer feels no guilt or shame about the crime. This hate becomes the command that triggers the gun against the poor.

Hate is when the poor cannot seek justice under a government that shows no compassion and killings happen day and night with impunity. Hate thrives when justice is denied.

In 2017, I had a conversation with a mother. I asked her who she thinks is responsible for the killing of her sons. “Duterte is responsible,” she replied.

But he was not the one who pulled the trigger, I said.

”I have three sons. Now there is only one. The other two were killed by tokhang. Tell me if he is not responsible. He did not pull the trigger, but he made a command to kill. All he needed to do is reverse his command. No more tokhang, no more killings,” she replied.

Her words keep echoing back to me. There is no hatred in her pondering, only clarity of reason.

Love, justice, and hope are unifying forces. The common cry of the poor is justice and this unites us. Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of the destitute.

Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV)

Conflicting views are inevitable, yet loving the poor and loving our neighbor is not a neutral action but a political bias toward where the heart of God rests. This is what must unite us: “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” (Psalms 12:5)

Norma Dollaga,

kasimbayan@yahoo.com.ph