Palace: Truth Commission for Duterte-era drug war probe worth considering

The Palace said Tuesday there is a need to consider the establishment of a commission to probe the drug war killings during Rodrigo Duterte's presidency.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez issued the statement in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision affirming the conviction of three police officers who murdered 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in 2017.

“We still need to review the Supreme Court decision. [But] this development underscores the need to consider the proposal from the church, civil society, and some members of Congress for an independent truth commission to probe more deeply into these extra judicial killings,” Gomez said.

Prior to Gomez’s statement, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima reiterated her call for the establishment of a truth commission to probe Duterte-era drug war deaths.

“We expect nothing less than the affirmation of the conviction of the three police officers involved in the brutal killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos. And beyond these low-level perpetrators, we continue to seek accountability from those with higher or highest responsibility for the carnage executed under the murderous War on Drugs, including its enablers,” she said in a statement.

“We once again reiterate our call for the swift passage of the Truth Commission on Extrajudicial Killings Act and the Anti-EJK Act, not only to achieve justice and national healing, but also to ensure that such heinous crimes never happen again. [May] justice [be served] for all the victims!” de Lima added.

Duterte has been detained in the Scheveningen prison in The Hague, Netherlands since March 13 this year due to alleged crimes against humanity over thousands of drug war and Davao Death Squad murders.

Duterte’s detention stemmed from an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

Duterte’s camp has since appealed for his interim release, but the ICC did not grant him such by citing that his continued detention was necessary. — BM, GMA Integrated News