MANILA, Philippines — Nearly a decade after her son was killed, a mother is once again recounting the night that changed her life forever—this time as families of victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs continue their long search for truth, accountability and justice.
Luzviminda Siapo’s son, Raymart, was killed in March 2017 at the height of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. His case has now become one of the stories being examined by an independent, civilian-led Truth Commission that has begun hearing testimonies from families and survivors of alleged drug war killings.
According to reports by ABS-CBN News, Siapo recently recalled the devastating circumstances surrounding her son’s death. Other news organizations that have followed her story provide further details about the years of grief and unanswered questions that followed.
Siapo was working overseas in Kuwait when she learned that her teenage son had been killed. Al Jazeera reported that relatives initially informed her of his death, and that she later received photographic confirmation from the morgue. She struggled to return to the Philippines and see her son for the last time.
A mother’s search for answers
Accounts surrounding Raymart’s death remain central to why his family continues to seek answers.
The Philippine Star reported that Raymart was allegedly taken by armed men after being accused of selling marijuana and was later found dead. The circumstances of his killing are now among those being examined through the Truth Commission’s hearings.
Al Jazeera reported that witnesses told Siapo her son was taken by masked men and shot after being ordered to move. The same report said forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun found that Raymart had been shot at close range. Siapo has maintained that her son was not involved in illegal drugs and has alleged that evidence was planted—claims that remain allegations and should be assessed through proper investigative and legal processes.
For Siapo, however, the pain extends beyond the circumstances of one night.
Her story reflects a broader reality faced by thousands of families who lost relatives during the anti-drug campaign: years of grief, unanswered questions and a continuing struggle to have their stories heard.
Nearly 10 years later, the question remains painfully simple: Why did so many families have to spend years fighting just to be heard?
Truth Commission opens a new chapter for victims’ families
The independent Truth Commission began hearing testimonies from alleged victims and families in August, providing a public platform to document experiences connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign.
The Philippine Star reported that former ICC judge Raul Pangalangan, who chairs the commission, said information gathered from testimonies could be shared with relevant Philippine government agencies and, when appropriate, international institutions. The commission itself does not function as a criminal court.
Not everyone agrees with the initiative. Former Duterte chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo criticized the Truth Commission, arguing that a process intended to establish accountability should provide respondents with an opportunity to defend themselves through formal legal proceedings.
That debate underscores the deeply divisive legacy of Duterte’s drug war—one that continues to shape Philippine politics and public discourse years after the campaign began.
Duterte faces ICC proceedings
The issue has also moved beyond the Philippines.
The International Criminal Court has confirmed charges of crimes against humanity, including murder and attempted murder, against former President Rodrigo Duterte and committed the case to trial. The ICC said its judges found substantial grounds to believe Duterte bears responsibility for alleged crimes committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population in the context of the anti-drug campaign between November 2011 and March 2019. Duterte is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the ICC proceedings will determine criminal responsibility through the judicial process.
The number of people killed during the drug war remains contested. Government figures have previously placed the death toll at around 6,000 in police operations, while human rights organizations and independent monitors have estimated substantially higher numbers, including deaths attributed to unidentified assailants and cases that may not have been officially documented.
For families, the fight is far from over
For victims’ relatives, the passage of time has not erased the loss.
Families have continued to attend hearings, vigils and other efforts aimed at documenting alleged abuses and pursuing accountability. Recent reporting has shown that many relatives see the opportunity to tell their stories publicly as an important step—even when justice remains uncertain.
For Luzviminda Siapo, the story is ultimately about more than a statistic or a political debate.
It is about a mother who lost her son—and who, years later, is still asking the question that no parent should have to ask:
What really happened that night, and will anyone ever be held accountable?
As new testimonies emerge and Duterte’s ICC case moves through the international justice system, the families left behind are making sure one thing is not forgotten: behind every number is a name, a family and a story that still demands to be heard.
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