Human rights advocate and priest Fr. Flaviano “Flavie” Villanueva on Saturday condemned what he described as “lies” being spread by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s camp about the ex-leader’s supposed poor condition inside the International Criminal Court (ICC) detention facility.
During the inurnment ceremony for victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) under his Program Paghilom at the Dambana ng Paghilom in La Loma Cemetery, Villanueva said deception was yet another weapon used to suppress truth and justice.
“Lying is another form of ‘tokhang’ killing. You already killed the life, you already killed the money, you already killed the truth… and now you also want to kill [their] freedom,” he said in his homily.
The priest’s statement came amid reports that Duterte had asked the ICC to determine his mental and physical fitness to stand trial, citing “cognitive impairment.” Villanueva, quoting former senator Antonio Trillanes IV—one of the complainants before the ICC—claimed that allegations of poor detention conditions were fabricated.
Villanueva led the interment of ashes belonging to the 11th batch of EJK victims whose remains were recently exhumed, examined, and cremated under the Program Paghilom. The initiative, which he founded in 2016, provides spiritual, legal, and livelihood support to bereaved families while giving their loved ones a dignified final resting place.
Recently honored as one of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awardees, Villanueva was recognized for his mission to uphold the dignity of the poor and oppressed through faith-driven service and compassion.
