MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Senate majority have condemned the killing of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, a 17-year-old student who is the latest victim of police anti-drug operation in Caloocan City.
On Sunday, August 20, allies of President Rodrigo Duterte signed a resolution seeking an investigation into alleged lapses of members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their operations resulting to the killing of Kian.
Except for Senator Manny Pacquiao, all majority senators have signed the resolution including Senators Francis Escudero and Nancy Binay who were not present at the caucus.
According to Senator Joel Villanueva, the senators agreed to task the Committee on Public Order headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson to probe the recent spate of police abuses as well as the death of Kian.
Meanwhile, minority senators have also expressed their intention to probe the drug killings.
On Wednesday, August 16, Kian was killed during a police operation in Barangay 160. According to the police, Kian resisted authorities and apparently fired at them. However, witnesses claim and several CCTV footages showed that Kian was unarmed and was pleading for his life.
The police also alleged that two sachets of shabu and a caliber .45 was found in Kian’s possession.
On Sunday, August 20, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa claimed that Kian was a drug courier for his own father and some of his uncles. Although he was dismayed with the outcome of the operation, Dela Rosa insisted that the operation itself was legitimate since there was basis for allegations that Kian was involved in illegal drug trade.
"Si Kian ay ginagamit ng kanyang ama. Ang ama niya mismo ang user, mga uncle ang mga pusher diyan at ginagamit si Kian na courier. Kaya nag-surface ang pangalan niya sa area mismo," Bato told ABS-CBN News.
To disprove Dela Rosa’s allegations, Kian’s family said they are willing to undergo drug tests.
-- Mini, The Summit Express
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| PHOTO CREDIT: ABS-CBN News |
Except for Senator Manny Pacquiao, all majority senators have signed the resolution including Senators Francis Escudero and Nancy Binay who were not present at the caucus.
According to Senator Joel Villanueva, the senators agreed to task the Committee on Public Order headed by Senator Panfilo Lacson to probe the recent spate of police abuses as well as the death of Kian.
“In conducting the campaign of the Duterte administration against illegal drugs, the government must always ensure that no innocent lives are unnecessarily lost and that those within the ranks of the police or any government agency should be held fully accountable for any crime or offense,” the resolution reads.
Meanwhile, minority senators have also expressed their intention to probe the drug killings.
On Wednesday, August 16, Kian was killed during a police operation in Barangay 160. According to the police, Kian resisted authorities and apparently fired at them. However, witnesses claim and several CCTV footages showed that Kian was unarmed and was pleading for his life.
The police also alleged that two sachets of shabu and a caliber .45 was found in Kian’s possession.
On Sunday, August 20, PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa claimed that Kian was a drug courier for his own father and some of his uncles. Although he was dismayed with the outcome of the operation, Dela Rosa insisted that the operation itself was legitimate since there was basis for allegations that Kian was involved in illegal drug trade.
"Si Kian ay ginagamit ng kanyang ama. Ang ama niya mismo ang user, mga uncle ang mga pusher diyan at ginagamit si Kian na courier. Kaya nag-surface ang pangalan niya sa area mismo," Bato told ABS-CBN News.
To disprove Dela Rosa’s allegations, Kian’s family said they are willing to undergo drug tests.
-- Mini, The Summit Express
