Teens vulnerable in Duterte’s drug war
Three friends left their homes in Tarlac City, Tarlac on Aug. 14, 2018 in search of a DOTA gaming tournament in Baguio City. They successfully hitched rides on trucks to reach Baguio, but on their return to Tarlac at 5 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2018, their excursion took a devastating and deadly turn.
As per the third friend who arrived in Tarlac City on Aug. 16, 2018, the three thought they had secured a ride the whole way back to Tarlac City, but when they arrived in Sison, Pangasinan, the truck driver changed plans and could no longer bring them any further. They set out on foot instead. Joshua and Julius left their friend at the roadside of TPLEX where he wanted to sleep first before walking further. As he recounts, he thought they were only joking about leaving him and continue on their own, but the two indeed never returned. He was able to hitch a ride later in the morning only to discover that his two friends had not arrived ahead of him.
As early as 4:19 p.m. on Aug. 17, 2018, the Facebook page of Philippine National Police PRO1 identified Joshua Laxamana—including his barangay and city—as dead. The police wove an elaborate scenario, said to have begun at 3:10 a.m., Aug. 17, 2018, of Joshua as a motorcycle-riding, checkpoint-running, firearm-wielding, Shabu-carrying “nanlaban” case. They also accused Joshua of being involved in four “akyat-bahay” burglaries in Pangasinan. However, they never contacted Joshua’s mother, who only learned of her son’s death and the location of his remains in the morning of Aug. 21, 2018.
Disturbingly, 15-year-old Julius Sebastian is still missing.
Rise Up for Life and for Rights raises our utmost concern for this missing teen and urges that all available resources be used to ascertain his whereabouts and welfare.
We also condemn yet another police killing with significant indicators of evidence manufacturing and planting. Our confidence in the regularity of these so-called “nanlaban scenarios” has long been exhausted. Patterns of conduct only underscore the need for further scrutiny on the veracity of evidence and narratives. Joshua is a verified and known DOTA player. Members of his community have raised questions on the truthfulness of the police report. His missing friend Julius and the testimony of their third companion beg for further inquiry.
In light of this, we call for a thorough and independent investigation into the killing of Joshua Laxamana. The life of another minor was snuffed out by police authorities and we are impelled to respond; we demand that the killing of Joshua Laxamana be treated with due process. As the list of Filipino children gunned down and executed grows, from Kian, Carl, “Kulot” and now Joshua— along with worrisomely missing Julius, we raise the alarm and insist on transparency, thorough investigation, and accountability.
We join the family, friends, and community in their call: Justice for Joshua Laxamana! Surface Julius Sebastian! Stop killing the poor!--Deaconess Rubylin Litao, Rise Up for Life and for Rights coordinator