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 carried these stories for years,” Cardinal David said in an emailed press advisory.

​In an interview, InPeace convenor Bishop Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente expressed support for the initiative. He urged the commission to include activists and members of marginalized sectors caught in the crossfire of the war on drugs.

​”We welcome any forum that provides victims with opportunities to tell their stories and express their calls for justice. We demand state accountability for extrajudicial killings—not only in the ‘drug war,’ but also against dissenters—which continue under the Marcos administration,” Calang said.

​As head of the civilian body, former International Criminal Court judge Atty. Raul Pangalangan pointed out in the same press advisory that the commission does not seek to replace courts or assign legal guilt, but to build a verified record that can guide healing, accountability, and institutional reform.

​Kagay-anon human rights researcher and veteran journalist Carlos Conde will serve as the commission’s Executive Director and Commissioner for Public Documentation, Transparency, and Democratic Accountability.

“It will not stop at Duterte killings, but those are the priority, for now,” Conde said.

​Joining Conde and Pangalangan are three other civilian commissioners representing specific areas of expertise:

• ​Dr. Raquel Barros del Rosario-Fortun (Forensic Sciences and Independent Investigation)

• ​Dr. Al Fuertes (Psychosocial Support and Trauma Healing)

• ​Fr. Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM (Church, Education, and Institutional Reform)

​For Kusog Mindanao, a multisectoral network of leaders and peace advocates across the island, the launch is a critical step forward.

“A Truth Commission formed and led by distinguished leaders from the religious sector, professionals, and civil society offers a much-needed ray of hope for truth-telling, accountability, and justice seeking,” Kusog Mindanao Chairman Charlito ‘Kaloy’ Manlupig said in an interview, Wednesday, May 27.

​For its part, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Amnesty International Philippines (AI-Ph) welcomed the commission as a vital step in uncovering the truth behind the thousands of killings during the “war on drugs.” The group hopes the initiative becomes a meaningful, credible process that delivers what victims and their families have long demanded: truth, accountability, healing, and the assurance that such widespread violations never happen again.

“We recognize and trust the integrity, credibility, and expertise of the individuals leading and guiding this initiative. Their lifelong work on human rights, accountability, forensic investigation, psychosocial support, democratic governance, and public service gives hope that this process will genuinely center victims and survivors,” Ritz Lee Santos III, AI-Ph Section Director, said.

​A central mechanism of the commission will be survivor-centered Public Truth Hearings. Operating under non-adversarial rules, these sessions may be public, closed, or anonymized based on risk assessments, allowing victims, witnesses, and experts to safely detail their experiences.

​Using documented findings from these hearings, the Truth Commission will prepare referral-ready packages and evidence-based recommendations for lawful oversight bodies, including the Commission on Human Rights, the National Police Commission, the Department of Justice, and the National Bureau of Investigation.

​“Truth-seeking processes cannot end with documentation alone. Truth must lead to accountability. Accountability must lead to justice. And justice must contribute to healing and guarantees of non-recurrence,” Santos pointed out.

​He added that Filipinos must also learn from past truth commissions and accountability mechanisms in the Philippines, which, despite good intentions, often failed to produce meaningful reform or justice for victims.