MANILA, Philippines — Father Flavie Villanueva expressed deep dismay over the mocking and ridicule directed at the recently established Extrajudicial Killings (EJK) Museum, emphasizing the sacred purpose behind the initiative.

The priest, who has long been an advocate for human rights, said it is painful to see a space meant to honor and remember the victims of extrajudicial killings become the subject of jokes on social media. “Every victim has the potential to be the next saint,” Villanueva stressed, highlighting the moral and spiritual significance of remembering lives lost to violence.

According to Villanueva, laughing at or belittling the museum is more than a show of disrespect toward the project itself—it is a direct insult to the memory of the victims and the grief of their families. He emphasized that the museum was not a spontaneous effort; it was years in the making, involving extensive consultation, documentation, and close collaboration with the victims’ families.

The priest’s statements come amid a wave of social media posts making light of the museum, sparking debate on the boundaries of humor and public sensitivity. For Villanueva, this is a reminder that honoring the dead, especially those who suffered unjustly, is a moral responsibility that transcends personal opinion. In an era of viral trends and online commentary, the priest asks society to reflect: How far should humor go when it intersects with the memory of lives lost to violence? (Larawan mula sa: Philstar Global / Google)