Part IV: Focus Group Discussions Two focus group discussions were conducted and documented in relation to the report: from a municipality in Luzon in September 2017, and from NCR in November 2018. The two FGDs are presented separately. 1. FGD with community members (Luzon) The FGD in a municipality in Luzon explored the effects of the EJK on the community: at the individual level through the perceptions and experiences of the participants, and at the barangay level, specifically how it had affected the “peace and order” situation in the barangay and identifying possible changes in the interpersonal relationships of residents. The killing of A. four months prior the FGD was the takeoff point for the discussion. Although there had been drug-related killings in the province, A.’s was the first that happened in their barangay. There were 11 participants to the FGD which included barangay officials (barangay captain, kagawad), barangay volunteers (tanod, BHW) and relatives and friends of the EJK victim. 13 Impact of the Killing A. had surrendered to the barangay captain as a drug user. As far as the participants were concerned, A. was already “reformed” from his drug habit and violent ways when he was killed. Once he had kicked off the drug habit, people noticed that there were no longer episodes of domestic violence in his household, and he even helped in housework. He was also said to be loved by the children in their neighborhood because they knew they could hang out in his house which was fondly called, “bahay ni kuya”. It was then a shock to everyone that he was killed by unknown assailants in May 2017, in the middle of the afternoon. The incident fostered a general feeling of distrust against police officers among the participants, mainly because they suspect that the police was involved – whether directly (as the killers) or indirectly (giving orders). The barangay captain, in particular, felt personally responsible for the death. The barangay captain had encouraged the surrender of A. and even accompanied him to the police station. The police came to the barangay several months after to take photos of the surrenderees and their houses, including A.’s. I really don’t know the real procedures Ma’am because I am cooperating with them. I just don’t know their real procedures Ma’am. I am cooperating with them…. Oo, sa mga pulis. 13 Although the data gathering protocol stated that participants should not be relatives of the victims, this cannot always be avoided in communities, particularly outside of Metro Manila. In this particular FGD, the participants, even the barangay captain himself, is related to the victim. Panaghoy: The Philippine War on Drugs from the Perspective of Women March 2019 43