A fiery exchange unfolded Monday between Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Fr. Flavie Villanueva, a co-founder of a support organization for drug war victims, regarding extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
Testifying before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Fr. Villanueva cited records indicating that over 3,600 individuals were killed within Duterte’s first 100 days in office, with 39 lives lost on day one alone. He presented a list naming more than 300 alleged victims, whose families are receiving support from Program Paghilom. Villanueva also introduced what he referred to as a “DDS template,” describing a pattern he claims was replicated across the Philippines under Duterte’s term.
Villanueva noted that drug war victims’ bodies often shared four common elements: one to three sachets of shabu, signs of torture, a .38 caliber firearm without a serial number, and dirty feet—details he offered as markers of extrajudicial killings. Acknowledging his own history of substance abuse, Villanueva said, “Hindi ko po sinasangayunan ang mga adik sa dahilang 15 taon rin ako gumamit… Naniniwala ako na may pag-asa sila. Hindi dapat paslangin o pasabugin ang bungo.” (“I’m not defending drug addicts because I used drugs myself for 15 years… I believe they have hope. They should not be killed or have their skulls blown up.”)
Senator Dela Rosa questioned the priest on how many cases he had filed to pursue justice, calling Villanueva’s advocacy “propaganda.” Dela Rosa accused the priest of failing to work with law enforcement to file cases, saying, “Nagpo-propaganda lang siya… hindi niya finollow up sa pulis kung kasuhan na itong mga [salarin].” (“He’s just doing propaganda… he didn’t follow up with the police to file charges against these perpetrators.”)
In support of Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III argued it should be the police’s duty to file cases, not the responsibility of victim advocates.
Dela Rosa also revisited his infamous 2019 remark, “sh_t happens,” made in reference to the accidental death of three-year-old Myca Ulpina during a buy-bust operation. The senator defended his words, explaining that police operations often unfold unpredictably. “Ang problema lang sa inyo, Father, you’re trying to capitalize my words… That’s very bad, Father. Masama po ‘yan,” he said, accusing Villanueva of manipulating his remarks to stir controversy.
Villanueva firmly denied Dela Rosa’s claims of propaganda, emphasizing that his focus is on support and healing, not political maneuvering.