Filipino families testify before Truth Commission over 2017 drug war killings

In Manila, Luzviminda Siapo testified before the Drug War Truth Commission about the 2017 death of her son Raymart, who was reportedly seized by masked men, ordered to run but unable due to a foot deformity, forced to sit, and then shot at close range, with police allegedly planting a gun and methamphetamine near his body. Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun of the University of the Philippines verified the close-range shooting as part of the commission's investigation into extrajudicial killings tied to former President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

The commission, created in May by civil society, holds regular livestreamed hearings to collect evidence that could be used by domestic courts or the International Criminal Court, where Duterte is being tried in The Hague. Additional families, such as Randy delos Santos, whose nephew Kian was killed by police in 2017, also shared their stories, seeking broader accountability beyond the limited convictions already secured.

Although the commission lacks prosecutorial authority, it aims to compile detailed records to support future legal actions. Participants said being heard was a step toward closure.