Duterte: No let-up in war on drugs despite cops’ conviction for Kian’s death

President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday there will be no let up in the war on illegal drugs even after the conviction of three cops who killed a teenage student whom they had accused of being a drug courier.

Duterte has said he will not pardon policemen Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz over the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos who was shot while in a kneeling position during the so-called "anti-drug operations" in Barangay 160, Caloocan City on August 16, 2017.

Oares, Pereda and Cruz were sentenced by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 125 to 20 to 40 years each in jail even as they were cleared of charges for planting of evidence.

"Why do you have to kill them illegally? We can always corner them. Find out if they have committed the shabu act of trafficking, and if [they] resist violently you're free to kill them," Duterte said in a speech during the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in Malacañang.

"I'm really at a loss of how to explain to them."

Still, the President said the drug war will continue.

"But there is no let up. Just because a few policemen killed somebody. There will never be a let up in the campaign against drugs and the killing will continue for as long as there are people who would resist arrest and fight it out," he said.

"That is my order and it will be until I leave the premises of this place," Duterte said, referring to the presidential palace.

He also ordered the police and military to "reassess" the campaign against fighting drugs and criminality.

"Kaya mga pulis, mga military, kindly reassess, marami kasing, maraming pulis nasabit. Why do you have to kill them illegally?” he said.

Duterte reiterated he is willing to go to prison for his controversial policy which has killed nearly 5,000 people since he assumed office in June 2016.

The President is currently facing two communications in connection with the drug war before the International Criminal Court (ICC), which opened in February a preliminary examination to determine whether it has jurisdiction over the matter and a full-blown investigation would serve the interests of justice and of the victims.

The President responded by withdrawing the Philippines’ membership in the ICC in March, a move being challenged by opposition senators before the Supreme Court.

He had repeatedly said that the ICC has no jurisdiction over him, arguing that the Rome Statute — the treaty that established the court— is not enforceable in the Philippines because it was not published in a government publication or any commercial newspaper.

Duterte also called ICC members "idiots and a bunch of criminals." —NB, GMA News