Photojournalists stand by drug war documentation amid attacks

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP) has forcefully defended the authenticity of photographs documenting the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs, rejecting claims that the images were fabricated or manipulated.

In a strongly worded statement, PCP said it “unequivocally stands behind the integrity” of Filipino photojournalists who risked their safety to capture scenes from anti-drug operations that left thousands dead, many in impoverished communities.

“These images are authentic, unedited accounts of state-sponsored violence,” the group declared, stressing that the photographs were produced under strict ethical and professional standards.

The organization categorically condemned what it described as attempts to discredit the documentation, calling such allegations “an affront to press freedom” and “a disgrace to the thousands of victims.”

During the height of the anti-drug campaign under former President Rodrigo Duterte, photojournalists chronicled crime scenes, grieving families, and communities gripped by fear images that would later circulate globally and draw scrutiny from human rights organizations.

PCP underscored that the photographs are not merely visual records but form part of what it described as crucial documentation now being examined in international legal proceedings, including those before the International Criminal Court.

“These photographs are not just images. They are evidence. They are history,” the statement emphasized.

The group warned that efforts to cast doubt on legitimate journalistic work threaten not only individual photographers but the broader principle of a free and independent press in the Philippines.

PCP reiterated its commitment to truth and accountability, saying it remains resolute in the pursuit of justice for victims of the drug war and their families.

As debates over responsibility and accountability continue both locally and internationally, the organization maintained that documentation however uncomfortable is essential to preserving the historical record.

“Without documentation,” PCP said, “there can be no accountability.”