By Raymund Antonio
Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Chel Diokno on Thursday led a legal mission in Manila to help document cases for families of victims of extrajudicial killings.
Diokno, a human rights lawyer, said the Supreme Court’s order to release documents related to the drug war was a positive development.
“Kailangan natin mabigyan ng tulong yung mga naging biktima ng EJK, 'yung mga biktima ng Tokhang, lalong-lalo na yung mga sinasabi nilang mga nanlaban,” Diokno said in a media interview.
Diokno led volunteer lawyers from the Free Legal Assistance Group, which he chairs, and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services for the legal mission at the Baclaran Redemptorist Church.
“Ang maganda doon, kahit na hindi nagustuhan ng ating pamahalaan, inutos ng Korte Suprema sa ating gobyerno na dapat ilabas nila lahat ng dokumento tungkol sa war on drugs,” Diokno told the families of victims.
“Mayroon pending instruction ang Supreme Court sa SolGen, kay Solicitor General Calida, na ibigay niya sa amin yung mga dokumentong yon. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nila binibigay at hinihintay namin,” he added.
While the decision to file cases is up to the families, Diokno said they will be helping victims document the cases as a "first step" towards justice.
“Talagang malaki yung need na ma-document natin 'yung mga pangyayari kasi madaling mawala 'yung mga dokumento, madaling mawala 'yung mga testigo. At least, kung kilala na natin at mailista na natin ay later on reding-ready na tayo,” he said.
“Tanggap natin na maraming natatakot...Maaaring ngayon mahihirapan tayong sampahan ng kaso yan. Pero darating at darating yung araw na magkakaroon din tayo ng hustisya,” he told families of victims.
Diokno has been leading legal missions for EJK victims with FLAG since late 2017. He also served as counsel for Tokhang victims who filed a case in 2017 challenging the legality of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.