Remember young EJK victims on ‘Niños Inocentes’ — De Lima
According to rights group Amnesty International, as much as 60 young individuals have been killed in anti-drug operations since June 2016, adding that family members claim they witnessed cops shooting children “begging for mercy” at point-blank range. ERNIE PEÑAREDONDO, File
MANILA, Philippines — As they commemorate Niños Inocentes or the Holy Innocents’ Day, Filipinos should remember and pray for the children who were killed in the conduct of the government’s brutal war on drugs, Sen. Leila de Lima said Thursday.
De Lima said the celebration of Holy Innocents' Day should serve as the chance for people to pray for justice for young EJK victims and the healing of their families.
“Ipanalangin nating matigil na ang karumal-dumal na patayan sa ating bayan para sa isang maaliwalas na bukas para sa lahat lalo na sa mga bata,” the detained senator said in a statement.
The Catholic Church celebrates Niños Inocentes annually to commemorate the innocent children who were killed by order of King Herod of Judea, who was fearful of being overthrown by the prophesized Messiah, to ensure the death of Jesus Christ.
De Lima, a former Commission on Human Rights chairperson, said the celebration is reminiscent of the fate of the minors who were killed in either police operations or vigilante-style killings since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed power.
“Sa madugong kampanya laban sa droga, inudyukan at patuloy pa ring inuudyukan ng gobyernong ito ang laganap ng patayan kung saan napakarami nang inosente, kabilang ang mga bata, ang pinaslang,” she said.
READ: Amnesty International calls on ICC to probe drug war, ‘slaughter’ of children
According to rights group Amnesty International, as much as 60 young individuals have been killed in anti-drug operations since June 2016, adding that family members claim they witnessed cops shooting children “begging for mercy” at point-blank range.
The cases of minors killed in Duterte’s drug war include 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman and 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz whose deaths have sparked public outcry.
Duterte’s war on drugs, which has claimed over 12,000 lives according to rights watchdog, has received strong criticisms at home and abroad.
The government has disputed these numbers. According to the latest #RealNumbersPH data release, there have been 3,967 drug suspects killed in government operations since July 2016.
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