Truth Commission on EJKs launched

A civilian-led initiative was launched on Wednesday to help victims of extrajudicial killing (EJKs) "restore their dignity" and help their loved ones heal from the trauma they have experienced.

"The Truth Commission on EJKs" is led by Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David as convenor with former International Criminal (ICC) Court Judge Raul Pangalangan as its chair.

“Bigyan natin ang boses, ang tinig, ang mga nawalan. Pakinggan natin ang kanilang mga kwento. Gunitahin natin ang kanilang buhay. Ilawan natin ang katotohanan,” David said.

(Let us give voice to those who have lost theirs. Let us listen to their stories. Let us remember their lives. Let us illuminate the truth.)

The commissioners, meanwhile, are Carlos Conde, journalist and senior researcher at the Asia division of Human Rights Watch; forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun; Al Furtes, field practitioner specializing in peacebuilding; and Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario of the Congregation of the Mission and president of Adamson University.

Conde said she is hoping that this could provide accountability from concerned institutions.

“Dahil ang katotohanan ay hindi lang para sa kasaysayan, kundi ito ay maging sa dignidad ng mga tao, pananagutan ng mga institusyon at paghilom ng mga tao,” Conde said.

(Because truth is not only for history, but also for human dignity, institutional accountability, and the healing of people.)

David also clarified that the truth commission aims to give opportunities for EJK victims' loved ones to share their experiences.

“Hangga’t may sugat na patuloy na nagdurugo at hangga’t hindi kinikilala ang mga sugat, lungkot, trauma, at pangungulila, hindi rin po tunay na makapaghilom ang ating bayan,” the cardinal said.

(As long as there are wounds that continue to bleed, and as long as those wounds, grief, trauma, and longing are not acknowledged, our nation will never truly heal.)

Pangalangan, meanwhile, said the commission’s final report will be shared with civil societies, the public, and even government agencies.

“That is for them (victims) to tell their story before the commission, for their story to be recorded, for history to be shared with others. And of course, our final report will be shared with civil society, with the public,” Pangalangan said.

For Fortun, this could help document unidentified victims, as there are still unclaimed bodies allegedly linked to EJK cases.

“Ang may records ay yung merong pamilya. May ilan sa mga pinatay ay walang nag-claim, unidentified. I’m looking for the opportunity to look for them,” Fortun said.

(Those with records are the ones who have families. Some of those who were killed were never claimed and remain unidentified. I am looking for the opportunity to search for them.)

Justice and accountability

In a statement, families of EJK victims sought a clear process in the truth commission.

“If this panel helps other families to find courage to come forward, we will support it. Still, as victims we should be consulted and our perspectives on any truth-telling mechanism should be taken into consideration. We are not just victims, we are seekers of justice and accountability,” said Jane Lee, wife of victim Michael Lee.

Rise Up families said they would be asking for an audience with the new ‘Truth Commission’ body to learn more about their proposals.

“We have high-regard for some of the civil-society leaders named for the panel. We appreciate that they want to help. We all want the truth to come out. Most of the truth that we need is with the police and other witnesses. Will this body be able to surface such truth? ,” said Llore Pasco, mother of victims Crisanto and Juan Carlos Lozano.

Based on government records, around 6,200 drug suspects were killed during the Duterte administration's anti-drug operations. Human rights organizations, however, say that the number may reach 30,000 due to the unreported related slayings.

In January 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized the reopening of the inquiry after it was suspended in November 2021.

On April 23, the ICC confirmed the charges of crimes against humanity against former President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the killings in his war on drugs when he was mayor of Davao City and when he was President.

The confirmed charges are the following:

-Count 1: Murder as a crime against humanity in Davao City during the mayoral period of at least the 19 victims, between 2013 and around June 2016, through indirect co-perpetration, ordering and/or inducing, and/or aiding and abetting;

-Count 2: Murder as a crime against humanity of ‘high-value targets’ in locations across the Philippines during the presidential period of at least the 14 victims between around July 2016 and July 2017, through indirect co-perpetration, and/or ordering and/or inducing and/or 25(3)(c) (aiding and abetting); and

-Count 3: Murder and attempted murder as crimes against humanity in barangay clearance operations in locations across the Philippines during the presidential period of at least the 45 victims (43 murders and two attempted murders) between around July 2016 and September 2018, through indirect co-perpetration, ordering and/or inducing, and/or aiding and abetting. —VAL, GMA News