For many Filipinos, especially families who lost loved ones during the height of the anti-drug campaign, the launch of the commission is another step toward finally having their stories acknowledged. While violence linked to drug operations existed even before 2016, the commission noted that the scale and persistence of the killings in recent years left deep wounds across communities nationwide.

“This is not about replacing the courts or assigning guilt,” Pangalangan said. “It is about building a credible truth record that can guide accountability, healing, reform, and the prevention of future violence.”

One of the commission’s major efforts will be the holding of Public Truth Hearings. Depending on the safety and consent of participants, these hearings may be public, semi-public, closed-door, anonymized, or represented through selected testimonies.

Unlike courtroom proceedings, the hearings will follow non-adversarial and survivor-centered rules. The goal is to document lived experiences, identify patterns of violence, and better understand the social impact of the killings in a respectful and safe environment.

Participants may include victims, survivors, families, witnesses, community leaders, academics, researchers, faith-based groups, civil society organizations, and members of the media.

The commission also plans to prepare evidence-based recommendations and referral-ready reports for agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights, the Department of Justice, the National Bureau of Investigation, and NAPOLCOM, while maintaining its independence from government control.

Periodic reports are expected every six months and will be submitted to Congress, NAPOLCOM, the Office of the President, and other concerned institutions. A final report will also be released at the end of the commission’s tenure, with public access subject to privacy and confidentiality rules.

“The truth must be protected not only as a matter of record, but as a matter of dignity for the families who have carried these stories for years,” Cardinal David said. “The EJK Truth Commission exists so these stories can be heard, verified, preserved, and acted upon.”

In a country where many families are still searching for answers, the work of the commission may become more than just documentation. For some, it could also become part of the long and difficult journey toward healing, one story, one testimony, and one truth at a time.

As we often say here at Kwento Ni Toto, behind every headline is a human story waiting to be heard.