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THE EJK TRUTH COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS FIRST HEARING TOMORROW
The independent Truth Commission on Extrajudicial Killings will hold its first hearing on Friday, August 14, at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.
The commission was organized by Catholic Church and civil society groups to document alleged killings connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. It is chaired by former International Criminal Court judge Raul Pangalangan.
This is not a government commission, a court, or part of the ICC. It cannot prosecute anyone or issue a judgment. Its work is to hear testimony, examine available records, preserve evidence, and produce a documented public account that may be submitted to Philippine authorities and international human rights organizations.
The first hearing is expected to include the case of Raymart Siapo, a 19-year-old Navotas resident killed in 2017 after he was allegedly accused of selling marijuana. Forensic findings from the examination of his remains are expected to be presented.
For families who have spent years trying to establish what happened to their relatives, the hearings provide a formal place where their accounts and supporting evidence can be recorded. Whether those records eventually lead to criminal cases will still depend on prosecutors, courts, and government investigators.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch how the commission handles evidence, protects witnesses, and allows opposing accounts to be heard. Its credibility will depend on whether its findings can withstand scrutiny beyond the hearing room.