Inilunsad ng civil society groups ang independent at civilian-led “Truth Commission” para imbestigahan at idokumento ang extrajudicial killings na iniuugnay sa “war on drugs,” pero agad ding nagtanong ang mga pamilya ng biktima: sino ang nagkomisyon sa panel, paano kakatawanin ang victims, at anong katotohanan pa ang ilalabas nito?
Tinukoy sa mga pahayag ang bagong body bilang Philippine Truth and Reconciliation Commission, o EJK Truth Commission, na magsisimula sa mga kaso noong administrasyon ni dating President Rodrigo Duterte.
Si Duterte ay nahaharap sa trial sa International Criminal Court (ICC) kaugnay ng crimes against humanity na iniuugnay sa drug war.
Layunin umano ng Commission na bumuo ng credible public record ng karahasang lumawak nationwide mula noong 2016, gamit ang survivor testimonies, accountability measures, forensic review, public hearings, institutional reform, at dokumentasyon ng drug war-related at iba pang alleged abuses.
“The EJK Truth Commission was created to ensure that the stories of victims, survivors, and families are heard, verified, and preserved,” ani Atty. Raul Pangalangan, Commissioner for Legal Affairs and Due Process.
Si Pangalangan, dating International Criminal Court judge, Inquirer publisher at columnist, at dating dean ng University of the Philippines College of Law, ang chair ng Commission. Kasama sa panel si Dr. Raquel Fortun para sa forensic sciences at independent investigation, Dr. Al Fuertes para sa psychosocial support at trauma healing, Fr. Daniel Franklin E. Pilario, CM para sa church, education, at institutional reform, at Carlos Conde para sa public documentation, transparency, at democratic accountability.
Si Conde, human rights researcher at veteran journalist, ang executive director ng Commission. Siya ang nakatalagang maglatag ng standards para sa public documentation at nonpartisan communication, at para gawing accessible ang findings ng Commission.
Magsisilbi namang adviser si Cardinal Pablo “Ambo” David, Bishop ng Kalookan. Ayon sa isang pahayag, magbibigay siya ng moral at institutional guidance para bantayan ang independence ng body at proteksyon ng survivors.
“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,” ani David.
“The Truth Commission exists so these stories can be heard, verified, preserved, and acted upon,” dagdag niya.
Isa sa pangunahing mekanismo ng Commission ang survivor-centered Public Truth Hearings na gagamit ng non-adversarial rules. Dito maaaring magsalita ang victims, witnesses, at experts tungkol sa kanilang karanasan at sa historical context ng killings sa mas ligtas na paraan.
Batay sa documented findings, maghahanda ang Commission ng evidence-based recommendations at referral-ready packages para sa oversight agencies, kabilang ang Commission on Human Rights, Department of Justice, at National Bureau of Investigation.
Maglalabas din ang Truth Commission ng periodic reports kada anim na buwan sa National Police Commission, Congress, at Office of the President, bago ang final public report sa dulo ng tenure nito.
Pero sa pahayag noong May 27, sinabi ng Rise Up for Life and for Rights, isang grupo ng mga pamilya at kaanak ng “Tokhang” victims, na marami pa silang gustong linawin bago makilahok sa proseso.
“What will make this process different? Victim advocacy groups have been documenting the violations for years. We want to know: who is commissioning the panel? How are the victims represented? What truth is the panel going to uncover? What is their framework of ‘reconciliation’? There is plenty that we still need to know, but will they be able to unmask it? Our focus is on the International Criminal Court,” ani Llore Pasco, ina ng mga biktimang sina Crisanto at Juan Carlos Lozano.
Tinukoy ni Pasco na may House Bill din para sa paglikha ng isang Truth Commission, kung saan nagkomento silang dapat may representasyon ang victims sa panel. Aniya, may nauna rin silang panawagan na hindi bababa sa kalahati ng panel ay kababaihan.
“In a House Bill for creating a Truth Commission, victims are to be represented on the panel. We also lobbied that we want at least 50% women on the panel. The announced panel has only one woman, Dr. Raquel Fortun, a forensic pathologist. There is no victim representative. We will have to learn more about how they plan to work before we participate,” sabi ni Pasco.
Para naman kay Jane Lee, asawa ng biktimang si Michael Lee, hindi dapat mawalay ang truth-telling process sa konsultasyon sa mismong pamilya ng mga pinatay.
“When our loved ones were killed in Duterte’s ‘war on drugs’, we were stigmatized. Many falsehoods and lies were in the news. It was Rise Up for Life that helped us speak up and tell our stories. We know how to speak the truth. We have been telling our stories for years. Consultations with the victims and our families must be integral in the process,” ani Lee.
“If this panel helps other families to find the 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,” dagdag niya.
Ayon sa Rise Up families, hihiling sila ng audience sa bagong Truth Commission para alamin pa ang proposals nito.
“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?,” ani Pasco.
“This could easily be just another investigation and report. Maybe it will be more extensive. We will consider telling our testimonies again, once they explain more fully. Maybe they can help collect evidence on the gunmen, the police precincts, the operation commanders and the hired killers. That would be a significant help,” dagdag niya.
Giit naman ni Lee, sentro pa rin para sa kanila ang kaso sa ICC. Aniya, dapat saklawin din ng anumang truth-telling mechanism ang killings sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang administrasyon at iba pang sektor.
“Right now our focus is on the trial at the International Criminal Court. Here in the Philippines, President Marcos should be helping us in seeking justice, but we must remember that any ‘Truth Commission’ should include killings under his administration, too. The Commission should also include the killings of farmers, workers, women, youth, and human rights workers. We will stay open on how this new ‘Truth Commission’ might contribute toward justice and accountability.” /Bistado