Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Representative Leila de Lima renewed her call for the creation of a Truth Commission to investigate cases of extrajudicial killings, following the Supreme Court decision affirming the conviction of three police officers in the 2017 killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos.
De Lima urged the immediate passage of proposed measures seeking accountability and national healing in the wake of the ruling.
“We once again reiterate our call for the swift passage of the Truth Commission on Extrajudicial Killings Act and the Anti-EJK Act, not only to achieve justice and national healing, but also to ensure that such heinous crimes never happen again,” she said.
The former senator and ex-Justice secretary said the High Court’s decision was expected, stressing that the pain caused by the killings remains unresolved.
“Ilang taon man ang lumipas, mananatiling sariwa ang sakit at ang alingawngaw ng mga putok ng baril, ang pagmamakaawa ng mga walang kalaban-laban at inosenteng batang pinaslang, at ang panaghoy ng mga naulilang pamilya, hangga’t hindi napapanagot ang mga tunay na pasimuno ng pagpatay sa libo-libong Pilipino,” de Lima said.
She added that accountability should extend beyond those directly involved.
“And beyond these low-level perpetrators, we continue to seek accountability from those with higher or highest responsibility for the carnage executed under the murderous War on Drugs, including its enablers,” she added.
Thousands were reportedly killed during the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte, a policy that de Lima had long criticized.
Duterte is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, facing crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court in connection with the drug war.