Pursuit of Justice: Bone Diggers in the Philippines Seek Accountability for Victims of Duterte's Drug War

Father Flavie Villanueva, accompanied by forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun, is on a mission to collect evidence that could potentially be used in a judicial inquiry into the thousands of deaths resulting from the "war on drugs" in the Philippines. Despite limited investigations and the government's refusal to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Father Flavie and Dr. Fortun are determined to gather evidence that could reach the ICC. Dr. Fortun has conducted autopsies on over 90 victims, uncovering inconsistencies in death certificates and reports. The Philippine government estimates that more than 6,252 people have been killed since the "war on drugs" began, but rights groups believe the actual number could be much higher. Families hope that the skeletal remains of their loved ones will provide answers and justice for the victims. Dr. Fortun carefully examines each exhumed body, searching for evidence such as bullets that could link the victims to their killers. She meticulously documents her findings in the hopes that they will be used in court or by the ICC. The police claim that the victims were drug lords or dealers who resisted arrest, but many families argue that their loved ones were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite promises from Mr. Duterte's successor to take a less violent approach, the drug war continues to claim lives, with small-time users and dealers accounting for a significant portion of the fatalities. Autopsies are not automatically performed in cases of violent deaths in the Philippines, and Dr. Fortun has faced challenges in obtaining the truth due to the police's control over investigations. While some defenders of the drug war argue that the campaign has reduced the number of drug dependents, Dr. Fortun remains dedicated to seeking justice for the victims and their families.