A coalition of church leaders and human rights advocates has officially launched an independent Truth Commission aimed at documenting the true human cost of the Philippine "war on drugs." Spearheaded by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the initiative seeks to establish a verified record of the thousands of lives lost during the Duterte administration. While the International Criminal Court is currently investigating these events, organizers emphasize that there is still no definitive, unified death toll. The commission intends to bridge this gap by collecting testimonies from victims' families and survivors, ensuring their stories are preserved as a foundation for healing, accountability, and long-term reform.

Beyond merely recording history, the commission is inviting law enforcement officers to come forward, suggesting that some may have been coerced into participating in the violence. The panel plans to submit biannual reports to government bodies, including Congress and the current administration, to push for structural changes. However, the move has drawn mixed reactions from rights groups like Hustisya, who warn that drug-related killings persist under the current government. While some organizations remain cautiously optimistic about the commission's potential, they insist that any legitimate path to justice must hold all perpetrators accountable, regardless of their position in the current political landscape.