A recent rally at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) against extrajudicial killings (EJK) is facing backlash for using photos of individuals who were not victims of EJK.
Families of those whose images were displayed without consent have expressed anger, calling it misleading and irresponsible.
Dr. Lox Andutan, son of the late Dr. Raul Winston Andutan, strongly condemned the use of his father’s photo.
He clarified that his father’s death had nothing to do with EJK or former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I’m not sure why they used my dad’s picture, but he did not die because of EJK. There’s no connection to Duterte either,” Andutan said.
He explained that his father was murdered due to personal motives, and the perpetrators are already in jail.
He called it “very disrespectful” to associate his father’s death with EJK.
Other families have also come forward, including those of Aldrin M. Tangonan.
Whose photo was used in an Anti-Duterte rally in The Hague, Netherlands.
His relatives were furious upon seeing his image linked to the war on drugs.
They clarified that Aldrin was not an EJK victim but was killed in 2020 over jealousy.
“Murag Big Deal na gyud kaayo ni! Murag dili nani maayo. Pilay gibayad ninyo? Grabe na gyud ni!” his sibling exclaimed.
“Tama na ang pagpamakak! Klaro kaayo nga daghan sa mga nag-rally diha, puro scripted lang ilang storya! Unya puros foreigner pa gyud naa sa rally!” he added, questioning the authenticity of the protest.
The family had already received justice for Aldrin’s death and were deeply disappointed by the false narrative.
As more families speak out, people are demanding accountability from rally organizers.
Many are calling for responsible advocacy to avoid misleading the public and causing further pain to grieving families.
Dr. Raul Winston Andutan was a respected urologist who was murdered due to personal motives unrelated to EJK. His son, Dr. Lox Andutan, strongly condemned the unauthorized use of his father’s image in the rally, stating that the perpetrators of his father’s murder were already in jail.
EJKs refer to killings carried out by state authorities or vigilantes without legal due process. In the Philippines, these killings were widely reported during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign.
Duterte is accused of orchestrating EJKs during his war on drugs. The International Criminal Court (ICC) alleges that he allowed or encouraged police and vigilantes to kill drug suspects without due process, leading to widespread human rights violations.
Keep Reading: Duterte Appears in ICC for First Hearing — Next Hearing Set for September 2025
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