FAMILIES of those who were killed in the government’s controversial drug war must be provided with “biological, psychological, social, and spiritual” help as part of the justice process, according to a non-profit, legal-focused group that recently conducted a study on the long-term impact of the anti-narcotics campaign on women.
“For justice to be complete, we must also take into account the biological, economic, psychological, social, and spiritual harm inflicted upon the indirect victims of these crimes,” said Raphael Carlo D. Brolagda, researcher team lead of the study undertaken by Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS).
Among the concrete recommendations put forward in the study includes “expenses for burial, education, and relocation.”
For psychological and spiritual needs, the study said families must be provided with “emotional support and spiritual guidance for the restoration of their faith shaken by the incident.”
As for social needs, one of the study’s main findings was that the survivors require a strong support system for the healing process.
IDEALS’ study revealed that families of those allegedly killed in the drug war experienced a decrease in family income, mothers or children were forced to become breadwinners, and the victims’ families endured discrimination in their community.
A total of 10 women aged 18 and above whose fathers or husbands were killed in the campaign against illegal drugs were the subjects of the case study, with four deaths classified as vigilante killings and the other six were under police operations.
The respondents, including children in their family, also experienced discrimination as their community tagged them as families of “drug addicts or pushers.” Some of the children stopped going to school.
The families also continuously feared for their safety as the attackers might come back, this time to kill them.
Behavioral changes, such as aggression, anger, and violent tendencies were also observed, including in children.
The participants of the study said they will continue to seek justice despite all the other problems that arose from the death of their loved ones.
“It is only when the wounds in our society are healed can we say that justice has truly been served,” Mr. Brolagda said. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago