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A missionary among Manila's 'night crawlers'

Redemptorist brother uses camera to confront Duterte's war on illegal drugs
A missionary among Manila's 'night crawlers'

Redemptorist Brother Ciriaco Santiago, also known as Brother Jun, takes a photograph during one of his night sorties to cover the spate of drug-related killings in Manila. (Photo by Vincent Go)

Published: February 22, 2017 04:43 AM GMT
Updated: February 22, 2017 10:46 AM GMT

It was past 12 in the middle of the night when the call came. Another body, presumably a victim of a summary execution, has been found in one of the dark alleys of Manila.

Reporters and photographers rushed out of the narrow door of the press office of the police department. They wanted to get to the crime scene before the investigators do.

There were at least ten vehicles in the convoy of media vehicles with hazard lights flashing to beat every red light. Those who hate speed were left behind. 

The photojournalists, who have been dubbed the "night crawlers" after spending every night of the past seven months documenting the government's war against narcotics, finally reached their destination.

"Somebody is really very unfortunate tonight," one said, pointing to where a police car was parked.

Under a bridge, the photographers lined up. Nobody spoke. Nobody wanted to talk except for the cameras that burst with the continuous flip and flap of their shutters. 

The three dead men suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and the body. They were drug dealers, said the police. "It was a buy-bust operation," added another officer.

Brother Ciriaco Santiago, known to the band of "night crawlers" as Brother Jun, was not taking photographs. His cameras were still hanging round his neck. He was standing near one of the bodies, his hands folded, eyes closed in prayer. 

After several moments of silence, Brother Jun, a photojournalist by vocation, lifted his camera and started shooting. 

The night had just started for the head of the permanent commission on social mission apostolate of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer in Manila.

Brother Jun spends his days reaching out to people in the "peripheries." He travels to villages, lives with tribal people, and visits slums.

He sees "life and the beauty of it" in every person's story. He has seen the sick get healed and how they continue to cling to their faith.

Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was elected last year, Brother Jun has been confronted with the "gruesomeness of death." 

He has to go out every night to look for victims of the "all-out war" against illegal drugs, many of whom are poor.

The Redemptorist brother refuses to dig into the "theology of things" to justify what he does.

"It is plain and simple. Something is wrong with the government's campaign. It affects the poor. It violates rights, and destroys the dignity of life," he said. 

"We don't need to look for any other compelling reason to act. Life itself is enough reason for us to fight for human life and human rights," said Brother Jun.

His faith and mission make him distinct from the other journalists who race every night to look for the dead.

Brother Jun does not only take photos. He does not only pray.

On Dec. 28, gunmen shot and killed seven teenagers, including a young pregnant woman.

Saddened by the news, Brother Jun mobilized church workers the following morning to search for the families of the victims.

In a shanty at the end of an alley in the outskirts of Manila, one of the families were found mourning without the dead. The poor family had no means to claim the body from the mortuary.

The mortuary charges a minimum of US$1,000 per body.

"They didn't even have food on their plates," said Dennis, one of the lay missionaries working with Brother Jun.

The missionary brother said he understands the pain of those who were left behind and "the helplessness and the hopelessness" that consume them.

"At least let them bury their dead," he said.

Brother Jun started raising funds. He also urged the families of the victims to negotiate with the mortuaries to lower the price.

Finally, the teenagers were given a decent burial.

Brother Jun continues to go out every night, chasing death, searching for the abandoned. 

Every night he waits, together with the "night crawlers," for the call that spurs them to beat every red light of the city.

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