Mindanao rights defenders welcome launch of Truth Commission on ‘drug war’ killings
EXPRESSING optimism and support, human rights advocates and civil society leaders here in Cagayan de Oro City welcomed today’s, May 27, launch of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission tasked with establishing a credible public record of extrajudicial killings under the Duterte administration’s “war on drugs.” The creation of the Truth Commission coincides with the coming 10th anniversary of the nationwide escalation of drug-related killings that began in 2016. The body recognized that while the violence predates 2016, the sheer scale of targeted killings in recent years has left thousands of families demanding truth and reparations. Cardinal Pablo ‘Ambo’ David, Bishop of Kalookan, will serve as the commission’s Adviser to provide moral and institutional guidance, ensuring survivor protection and safeguarding the body’s independence from government control. “The truth must be protected not only as a matter of record, but as a matter of dignity for the families who have c...
