Manila vigil remembers drug war dead as truth panel convenes
Relatives and advocates hold candles at a Manila truth commission session remembering alleged drug war victims under Duterte.
A candlelight vigil marked the opening of a truth commission session in Manila on Thursday, as relatives of those who died in the Philippines' drug war under former president Rodrigo Duterte gathered to demand accountability.
Mariza Hamoy, whose son is among the alleged victims of extrajudicial killings, was seen wiping tears during the proceedings. She stood alongside human rights advocates and members of the Catholic clergy, all holding candles in a somber display of remembrance.
The session, described as a "Truth Commission" gathering, is part of ongoing efforts by civil society groups to document cases of alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred during Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign. The campaign, which ran from 2016 to 2022, has been the subject of international scrutiny, with the International Criminal Court examining whether crimes against humanity were committed.
Thursday's event in Manila brought together a cross-section of Philippine society — from church leaders to grassroots activists — in a unified call for truth and justice. The presence of the clergy underscored the Catholic Church's continued involvement in human rights advocacy in the predominantly Catholic nation.
For families like Hamoy's, the commission represents a rare opportunity to publicly share their grief and press for answers. The vigil's candlelight setting served as a visual reminder of the lives lost and the ongoing search for closure.
No official government representatives were reported at the session, which was organized by non-state actors. The commission's findings are expected to add to the growing body of documentation on the drug war's human toll.