Truth panel probing drug war ‘abuses’
SEEKING the truth Members of the EJK Truth Commission work to establish a public record of extrajudicial killings and related abuses nearly a decade after the drug war began.
PHOTOGRAPH by analy labor for DAILY TRIBUNE
A civilian- and church-led truth commission is investigating alleged human rights abuses and other abuses committed during the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, seeking to document what happened and help victims pursue truth and reconciliation.
Fr. Flavie Villanueva said the Philippine Truth and Reconciliation Commission, also known as the EJK Truth Commission, will hold its second hearing Thursday, where a mother is expected to testify about her experience during “Oplan Tokhang.”
Villanueva said the commission would examine the campaign against illegal drugs from 2016 to 2022 and provide victims a forum to recount their experiences.
He urged the public to support the commission, saying victims of the bloody campaign need a venue where their accounts can be heard and documented.
The commission was launched as an independent, civilian-led body to investigate alleged extrajudicial killings linked to the drug war.
Its members include former International Criminal Court judge Raul Pangalangan as chairperson; forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun; human rights journalist and researcher Carlos Conde; theologian Fr. Daniel Franklin Pilario; trauma and peace scholar Al Fuertes; and Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David as adviser.
The commission said its work involves gathering accounts and evidence, documenting alleged abuses and recommending reforms to help prevent similar violations.