Malacañang on Tuesday said it is reviewing the Supreme Court (SC) decision that upheld the murder convictions of three police officers in the killing of teenager Kian delos Santos, saying the ruling underscores calls for a deeper probe into alleged extrajudicial killings during the previous administration’s war on drugs.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the Palace has yet to fully examine the high court’s ruling but acknowledged that the decision highlights proposals from various civil society groups and some lawmakers to establish an independent truth commission.
“We still need to review the Supreme Court decision,” Gomez said.
“This development underscores the need to consider the proposal from the church, civil society, and some members of Congress for an independent truth commission to probe more deeply into these extrajudicial killings,” he added.
The SC earlier upheld the conviction of three former police officers found guilty of murdering delos Santos during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in August 2017.
The case became one of the most high-profile killings linked to the previous administration’s anti-narcotics campaign and sparked widespread public outrage and international scrutiny.
Delos Santos’ killing was among the rare drug war cases that resulted in convictions, as most police operations linked to thousands of deaths did not lead to criminal liability.
The Palace has not yet said whether it will formally endorse the creation of a truth commission, noting that further review of the ruling and consultations are needed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has repeatedly said his administration will uphold the rule of law while maintaining a policy against illegal drugs, with an emphasis on due process and accountability.
