At the Dambana ng Paghilom memorial site in La Loma Cemetery, families of alleged extrajudicial killing EJK Victims came together on November 1 to light candles, say prayers, and hope for justice for their loved ones. Each year, they visit the graves of their family members, sharing stories and seeking peace.
This year, some families feel more hopeful due to a new congressional investigation into the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign. Among the visitors was Roan Codillo Cedillo, whose brother was an EJK victim. “We pray that the killings from 2016 are resolved… Our family wants justice,” she shared.
In Tala Cemetery, Jimmy Segovia visited the grave of his son, Jonel, who was only 17 when he and his friends Sonny Espinosa and Angelito Soriano were killed in a police operation in December 2016. Fighting back tears, Segovia recalled how his son suffered 13 gunshot wounds. “I feel like justice is coming,” he said, expressing renewed hope that their case will finally be resolved.
At the memorial, a lay minister went around blessing graves with holy water, while security and medical teams were on-site to assist visitors.
There were also concerns at the Tala Cemetery, where some graves were found damaged, including one from 2022 where the concrete had caved in. Mark Natividad of Kabalikat Civicom suggested the issue could be due to substandard materials or even theft of steel bars and roofing. His group plans to work with cemetery management to address the problem.
Families continue to hold onto hope and gather strength from each other as they honor the memory of their loved ones, yearning for justice and closure.
