Groups hold ‘Undas ng Kababaihan’, demand justice for EJK victims
Families of victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs gather for a Mass celebrated by Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, SVD, during the “Undas ng Kaluluwa at Paghilom” organized by Program Paghilom at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City on Thursday, October 29, 2026. The gathering honors their departed loved ones and calls for healing, remembrance, and justice. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News MANILA — Lea Decano was only 13 years old when her older brother was gunned down in their house in Quezon City in 2020.
She said it was around noon that day when a still-unidentified man pointed a gun at her sibling, who was using his cellphone.
Six years later, Lea still carries the trauma of seeing her brother’s lifeless, bloodied body, and the anger that justice has still not been served.
“Gusto kong maghiganti pero hindi ko kaya. Masakit pa rin po,” Lea said through her tears. “Gusto ko rin po talagang mabigyan ng hustisya si kuya.”
Lea was one of the relatives of extrajudicial killing (EJK) victims during the Duterte administration’s War on Drugs, who attended the “Undas ng Kababaihan 2026: Araw ng Pag-alala sa mga Pinaslang” on Thursday, October 29, at the Ina ng Lupang Pangako Parish in Payatas, Quezon City.
The annual event, organized by the groups EveryWoman, Baigani Feminist Collective, and the Truth Commission, aims to commemorate the victims and continuously demand for accountability.
“Itong mga biktima ng EJK importante din sa kanila kasi gusto nating bigyan ng dangal yung mga nabiktima ng EJK at sabihin na itong mga biktima na ito ay mga tao na may kaparehong dangal ng ibang mga tao,” said Jhecy Rebete, Administration and Office Staff of the Truth Commission.
The Truth Commission and EveryWoman hope justice and accountability will finally be achieved as Duterte will soon stand trial before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on November 30 for charges of crimes against humanity.
The groups also called on Senator Ronald dela Rosa, Duterte’s co-accused, to surrender. Dela Rosa has been in hiding since May of this year and is considered a fugitive.
“Para kay Senator Bato dela Rosa, sana panahon na para harapin niya ang kasong nasampa sa kanya,” said Jean Encinas-Franco, co-convenor of EveryWoman.
“Lalo na bilang Senador ng bayan, hindi maganda na siya ay tumatakas sa kamay ng batas,” Encinas-Franco added.
“It’s not persecution,” Rebete remarked.
“Dahil merong mga ebidensiya katulad sa ibang mga kaso, may ebidensiya at meron tayong proseso na sinusunod, may mga testigo laban sa mga kanyang mga ginawa at kung wala siyang kasalanan, dapat ito ay panahon para sabihin niya sa madla at magprisenta rin siya ng mga ebidensiya at testigo na wala siyang kasalanan,” Rebete continued.