Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David (center) and other members of the Truth Commission during its launch in Manila on May 27, 2026, to investigate and document extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. CBCP
MANILA (May 28) — A civilian-led, church-supported commission was launched Wednesday to document alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, marking a new parallel track of accountability efforts alongside proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Philippine Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or “Truth Commission,” said it will compile testimonies, verify accounts, and build a public record of deaths and abuses during the anti-drug campaign that escalated after 2016 — a period human rights groups say left thousands of families without justice.
“Kaya po tayo nandidito para tayo naman ang manlaban pero sa mapayapang paraan… manlaban para sa katotohanan,” said Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, who serves as adviser to the body.
The commission stressed it will not function as a court or assign criminal liability, but as a fact-finding and documentation mechanism focused on truth-telling, healing, and institutional reform.
Former ICC judge Raul Pangalangan, who chairs the commission, said its goal is to preserve verified narratives from victims and survivors rather than pursue prosecution.
“This is not about replacing the courts or assigning guilt. It is about building a credible truth record that can guide accountability, healing, reform, and the prevention of future violence,” he said.
The body brings together experts across disciplines, including forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun for scientific investigation, Dr. Al Fuertes for psychosocial support, Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario for church and education engagement, and human rights advocate Carlos Conde as executive director overseeing documentation and transparency.
Conde said the initiative will rely heavily on volunteers and church networks as it begins work on a “step-by-step” basis, citing the scale and complexity of reported abuses.
Cardinal David said funding support is expected from a major German charitable foundation with experience supporting similar truth commissions abroad, including in Guatemala.
Human rights groups estimate at least 30,000 deaths during the drug war, though official government figures are significantly lower.
The launch comes as former president Rodrigo Duterte faces trial at the ICC for crimes against humanity, while his former police chief, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, remains under intensifying legal scrutiny tied to the same anti-drug campaign.
The commission’s organizers say its work is meant to run in parallel with legal proceedings — filling in what they describe as the human record behind one of the most divisive periods in recent Philippine history.
