Robredo to PNP: It’s your obligation to prove no state policy to kill drug suspects

The Philippine National Police (PNP) should prove to the public that there is no state-sanctioned killings in the country, Vice President Leni Robredo said Wednesday.

"Napakarami na ding mga kaso na until now unsolved pa. Hanggang hindi pa nasosolusyunan ito, hindi maiaalis sa taumbayan ang magtanong kung polisiya ba ito o hindi," Robredo told reporters during her Metro Laylayan visit in Pasay City.

"Tingin ko obligasyon ng kapulisan na ipakita sa tao na hindi nila sanctioned iyong ganitong mga patayan. Kasi kahit anong sabihin nila, kung iba iyong nakikita, siyempre iyong tanong parating nandoon," she added.

On Tuesday, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa became emotional during the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee hearing on the death of Kian Loyd delos Santos after he felt "alluded" to when Senator Risa Hontiveros remarked that there seemed to be a pattern to the killings and that she believed members of the PNP killed suspects because of a 'policy' that allows this in the name of the war on drugs.

President Rodrigo Duterte, for his part, defended Dela Rosa and slammed Hontiveros for insinuating that the deaths of Delos Santos and 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz demonstrated a state policy of tolerating the killing of drug suspects.

"Do you think two killings even if it's illegal would make a policy? Dalawang patay. Palagay na natin pinatay, murder," Duterte said.

"I ask Hontiveros: Is that already a policy? Is that a baseline of a policy? Napakabobo naman niya."

Hontiveros shot back that while she knew two deaths do not make a policy, thousands without remorse, regret or action from the government, do and that President Duterte's words urging police to kill criminals have the weight of policy. — Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/RSJ/KVD, GMA News