By late 1944, after two and a half years since the fall of Bataan, it was estimated by Allied intelligence that a million Filipinos were in one way or another part of the guerrilla resistance. These Filipinos held on to hope in a time of hopelessness, maintained courage despite being abandoned, and this is why we remember and commemorate their sacrifice on what is one of the most solemn days in the Philippines, the Day of Valor, or in Filipino, “ang Araw ng Kagitingan”.

The Philippine passport should be a source of pride, a shield of protection, not a badge of suspicion. Every Filipino deserves to see the world without being treated like a criminal just because of where they were born.

In DDS hitman Edgar Matobato’s testimony submitted to the ICC, he narrated a killing at Deca Homes: So Paolo called us, Major Lao, Major Francia to go to Deca Homes. We entered the home of the victim. Paolo ordered us to kill them.