MANILA — A Palace official assured the public on Friday that there is no cause for alarm over expressions of sympathy for former President Rodrigo Duterte. However, she stressed the need to direct attention toward the victims of the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) linked to his administration’s controversial drug war.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the government respects the public’s right to express their sentiments, including those sympathizing with Duterte.
“Those sympathizing with former President Duterte, that is their right. We will not stop them; they have the right to grieve and mourn for him,” Castro said.
Despite acknowledging the public’s right to show sympathy, Castro emphasized that the focus should also be on the victims of the drug war. She urged the public to also consider the pain and suffering experienced by the families of those allegedly killed in extrajudicial killings, particularly as the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
“We have not seen anything alarming for the administration yet. However, we should also discuss the victims—perhaps the public’s attention should not be solely on them,” Castro said.
She expressed concern that the suffering of the families left behind by the alleged victims of EJKs has not received sufficient attention.
“Right now, people are not noticing what the victims went through, what the families of those killed in EJKs are experiencing,” Castro added.
The Palace official also questioned why the public appears to be focusing on those accused of serious crimes, rather than on the victims of those crimes. “Why are Filipinos no longer seeing those who were killed? Why are we focusing on the one accused of murder and crimes against humanity? Why does it seem like we are glorifying someone accused of such heinous acts?” she asked.
Castro called for the public to open their minds and consider the perspective of the victims and their families. “I hope the public will open their eyes to what the victims and their families have felt,” she said.
The remarks come as former President Duterte faces legal repercussions related to the war on drugs. He was arrested earlier this week by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and local authorities on an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has been investigating Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity in connection with the drug war, which reportedly led to thousands of deaths during his tenure as both Davao City mayor and Philippine president. Duterte is currently awaiting trial in The Hague, Netherlands.
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