Malacañang said it is reviewing the Supreme Court’s decision affirming the conviction of police officers in the 2017 killing of teenager Kian delos Santos, a ruling it said has reignited calls for a deeper reckoning over alleged extrajudicial killings.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the Palace has yet to fully examine the High Court ruling but recognized its broader implications.
“We still need to review the Supreme Court decision,” Gomez said.
He added that the decision bolsters proposals from the church, civil society groups, and some lawmakers to create an independent body to investigate the killings.
“This development underscores the need to consider the proposal from the church, civil society, and some members of Congress for an independent Truth Commission to probe more deeply into these extra judicial killings,” Gomez said.
The 2017 killing of Kian delos Santos became one of the most high-profile cases linked to the anti-drug campaign, with the Supreme Court ruling now serving as one of the clearest judicial affirmations of police accountability years after the incident.
The decision renews attention on unresolved deaths during the drug war and raises questions about whether a truth commission could provide a fuller accounting of what happened.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration prioritized the anti-drug campaign from 2016 to 2022, is currently detained at The Hague facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court.