A Filipino Cardinal on Friday urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to establish a ‘truth commission’ that would review the unresolved killings linked to the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war.
Kalookan Bishop and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Pablo Cardinal David said that such a commission would be crucial in bringing closure to victims and families who continue to seek justice.
‘We are not certain if all of them have recovered from the trauma they went through,’ he said during a press conference.
‘They lost their sense of security, their trust in public institutions, and in many cases their means of livelihood. Their grief is not abstract.’
David explained that the proposed commission would not only investigate unresolved deaths but also provide a safe venue for victims, families, and witnesses to share their experiences.
He added that it should also encourage full disclosure from law enforcers and other actors involved, under proper legal safeguards.
The Cardinal said the body could recommend reparations and psychosocial support for victims’ families and push for institutional reforms to ensure that such abuses never happen again.
‘Truth telling is not an act of reopening wounds. It is the only path by which wounds can finally heal. Silence breeds resentment and fear. Truth restores dignity, trust, and moral coherence to our democracy,’ the Cardinal said.
David also clarified that the purpose of such a commission would not be vengeance but the promotion of truth and accountability.
‘We believe that this is a moment of grace and a historic opportunity. Your excellency, your leadership in establishing such a commission would send a powerful message that our nation chooses courage over fear, accountability over impunity, and reconciliation over silence,’ David told Marcos.
The Cardinal’s letter was sent to Malacañang on Friday. The Palace has yet to respond.