Human rights groups and relatives of victims of Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs gathered at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City on April 6 to launch the white ribbon campaign. Led by the Bayan Muna Party-list, the campaign aims to broaden support from various sectors for the families of Duterte’s victims and achieve justice.

Bayan Muna first nominee Atty. Neri Colmenares said they want to amplify the call to convict Duterte, who is facing charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Duterte was placed under ICC detention on March 12.

Atty. Colmenares explained that the white ribbon symbolizes collective mourning and, most importantly, the unwavering struggle to achieve justice. “We are here today not only to remember the victims but to demand that Rodrigo Duterte be held accountable for the mass murder of the poor,” Atty. Colmenares said.

According to human rights groups, the fake war on drugs killed an estimated at least 30,000 people, in addition to hundreds of victims of extrajudicial killings of activists, critics, and political opponents.

Participants tied white ribbons at the foot of the Bantayog and distributed white ribbons in front of St. Peter Church on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. They urged everyone to also tie white ribbons on their homes, vehicles, and other places. They also called for placing stickers, wearing pins, and attaching white ribbons to their profile photos on social media as forms of solidarity.

Attorney Colmenares said the Marcos regime must end its hypocrisy. “If it truly values justice, it must protect the victims and their families, and fully cooperate with ICC hearings. The state must not be an accomplice to impunity,” said the former legislator.

He called on the Filipino people: “Let us not allow our bloody history to repeat itself. Silence is complicity with violence. Taking action is siding with justice.”

On April 8, Bayan Muna tied white ribbons in front of the House of Representatives alongside their protest against fake news. They timed their action with the tri-committee hearing on the proliferation of fake news on social media.

The party condemned propagators of fake news on social media and called for the abolition of the anti-people National Task Force-Elcac, which is the number one disseminator of fake news. The NTF-Elcac targets citizens fighting for legitimate rights through Red-tagging and systematic attacks, including victims of the former Duterte regime.