Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima denounced the framing of children killed in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs as mere “collateral damage,” saying such language trivializes the lives lost.
“Wala nang mas sasakit at lulupit pang trahedya sa maulila ng anak. Kawalan ng puso at konsensya ang ituring lang silang collateral damage,” de Lima said.
The former Justice secretary further criticized attempts to dismiss the killings as defensible.
“Kademonyohan ang gawin silang katatawanan para ipagtanggol at bigyang katwiran ang karahasan ng pekeng War on Drugs,” she added.
De Lima also cautioned against narratives suggesting former President Rodrigo Duterte should be allowed to quietly retire in Davao.
“Kalokohan ang mahabag sa nagkukunwaring wala na sa tamang pag-iisip o nagsasabing mahina at matanda na, pero manhid sa libo-libong pinaslang, kabilang ang mga batang inosente at walang kalaban-laban. Mga batang pinagkaitang mabuhay, tuparin ang pangarap at makasama ang pamilya,” she said.
She stressed the need to continue pursuing accountability.
“Patuloy po nating ipagdasal at ipaglaban ang inaasam nating hustisya, at ang pagpapanagot sa pasimuno at sa lahat ng kasabwat sa krimeng ito laban sa sangkatauhan,” de Lima declared.
Her remarks came after the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber concluded its confirmation of charges hearing last Friday on crimes against humanity allegations against Duterte.
According to the World Organisation Against Torture, at least 122 children were killed in the drug war between July 2016 and December 2019.