Mother of boy killed in drug war seeks Eleazar’s help

The mother of a 17-year-old boy killed under President Duterte’s brutal drug war is pinning her hopes that she will finally get justice for her son’s death now that the former Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief is the country’s top cop. Mariza Hamoy, whose son Darwin was killed in what became known as the “Payatas massacre,” when PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar was then QCPD head, appealed for the latter not to follow in his predecessors’ footsteps and exact accountability from rogue cops during his stint. Hamoy urged him to “let justice prevail” and not let charges against the 17 policemen involved languish at the PNP’s internal affairs services (IAS), which handles police misconduct. “What I really want is for him (Eleazar) to help us surface the truth,” Hamoy said. “That’s what I pray for the most. Win or lose, I want to fight for my child to the very end.” Since 2018, Hamoy has been waiting for the results of IAS’ summary dismissal proceedings against the 17 QCPD policemen involved.

—Krixia Subingsubing