Senatorial aspirant and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel 'Chel' Diokno on Monday, Nov. 15, assured families of the victims of President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs campaign that he will “stand” by them in fighting for justice and achieving healing.

The lawyer made the commitment during the blessing and turnover to the families of slain 'Oplan Tokhang' victims the nine urns containing their kin's ashes. This was done at the Espiritu Santo Shrine in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

The nine victims were killed in the first few months of the implementation of the “Oplan Tokhang”, which was launched shortly after Duterte assumed the presidency in 2016.

The youngest of the victims was only 19 years old while the oldest was 52.

“Ako’y nakikiisa sa inyong pagkakamit ng pananagutan at paghihilom (I am one with you in seeking justice and healing). No matter how long it takes, I will stand with you in your fight for justice and healing,” Diokno said during his short speech.

“Ang paghihilom ay isang espesyal na klase ng pagmamahal. Masasabi natin na (ito'y) isang aspeto ng ‘radical love.’ Iba kasi ang paghihilom sa paghihiganti (Healing is a special kind of love. We can say that it is one aspect of radical love. Healing is different from revenge),” he added, referring to presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo’s infamous statement when she told her supporters that it is more radical to love.

Diokno, a member of Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino, is running under Robredo’s ticket.

READ: 'Ngipin ng batas' Diokno says Robredo intends to give 'teeth' to PH laws

Saying that it is natural for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) to want to take revenge against the perpetrators, the senatorial aspirant said that it is best to hold them accountable instead.

“Pag tayo’y naging biktima ng inhustisya, ang natural na reaksyon natin ay maghiganti. Pero ang paghihiganti ay nakakalason sa ating puso’t kaluluwa. Sa aking pananaw, iba ang paghihiganti sa pananagutan (When we become victims of injustice, the natural reaction is to take revenge. But revenge will poison our hearts and souls. In my opinion, revenge is different from justice),” Diokno stressed.

“Ang pananagutan ay nakakapagbigay ng ‘closure’ o pagwawakas sa mga kamaganak ng biktima ng EJK, sa kumpletong pagtanggap sa pagpatay sa inyong mga minamahal sa buhay (Accountability will bring closure to the families of the victims of EJK, in completion of the acceptance in the killing of your loved ones),” he added.

READ: Diokno says review of only 52 deaths in war on drugs 'grossly insufficient'

A prayer service was led by Fr. Flavie Villanueva, SVD, for the nine victims whose remains were exhumed after the five-year lease on their apartment-style graves in various public cemeteries expired.

The priest is the founder of the Society of the Divine Word - JPIC (Justice-Peace Integrity of Creation) Office of the Central Province.

He made news when he washed the feet of the orphans of EJK victims in 2018.

Villanueva, also head of the AJ Kalinga Foundation, spearheads the Society of the Divine Word’s “Project Paghilom,” which facilitated the cremation of the said remains and purchased urns so their loved ones can take them home.