MANILA, Philippines — On February 16, 2026, self-confessed former drug addict and priest Fr. Flavie Villanueva personally oversaw the exhumation of two more alleged victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) at Manila North and South Cemeteries. The process, which included digging and transferring the remains, was conducted under his direct supervision as a symbolic act of solidarity with families seeking justice.

The recovered remains were carefully relocated to the Dambana ng Paghilom at La Loma Catholic Cemetery in Caloocan City, the country’s first memorial dedicated to victims of EJKs. The memorial now houses 116 urns, reflecting the growing effort to acknowledge lives lost outside the bounds of legal process.

Fr. Villanueva has stated that his hands-on involvement is meant to serve as both an act of compassion and a public reminder of the urgent need for accountability. Observers note that such symbolic actions carry profound emotional weight for families who have long sought recognition of their suffering, yet they also spark debates on the effectiveness of symbolic gestures versus formal legal proceedings.

This latest exhumation comes amid the International Criminal Court’s ongoing examination of cases linked to the Philippine drug war, highlighting the persistent tension between moral advocacy and institutional justice.

While the memorial offers a tangible acknowledgment of victims, questions remain about broader systemic reforms. Can acts of remembrance like these truly catalyze accountability, or do they risk remaining symbolic gestures without legal consequences? (Larawan mula sa: Masang Pilipino / Facebook)