Chel Diokno reminds not to forget the 'tokhang victims': "They need our help now more than ever"

Photo from Manila Bulletin

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno has reminded the Filipinos not to forget the victims of President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs amid the pandemic in the country.

“Even as we all struggle with the COVID crisis, let’s not forget the victims of the war on drugs, especially the children left behind,” Diokno said on a post

“They need our help now more than ever,” the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman added

Human Rights Watch alleged that thousands of Filipinos have been kiIled since 2016 as Duterte fight against illegal drugs began and said that only civil society cares for these families in the absence of proper support from the government.

The group also lamented that these victims may have left their children and family behind.

Diokno is also a senatorial candidate of Otso Diretso in the 2019 elections. 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.

Meanwhile, this article of Politiko elicited different reactions from netizens:

“What about those who died of neglect because the syndicates were allowed to run free and gun down whoever they want?”

“Talaga lang ha, Mr. Joke-no? Gusto mo pang isingit ang issue mo against PRRD? O baka masama ang loob mo dahil di ka nabigyan ng ayuda? Stay at home ka na lang forever dahil yung yellow virus na dala-dala nyo wag nyo nang ikalat sa iba!”

“Alalahanin mo din Mr.Diokno ang mga taong pinatay ng mga durgista..mga pamilyang sinira ng dr0ga..mga walang kalaban labang mga batang ni r*pe..at marami pang krimen na ginawa dahil sa dr0ga..”

“Move on kana,hindi issue ngayun kundi paano makatulong sa tao s panahon ng covid 19”