Senators urge separate probe on death of Kian Loyd delos Santos in Caloocan drug ops

Several senators on Friday sought a separate inquiry on the death of a Grade 11 student during an anti-drug operation by Caloocan policemen.

Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate justice committee, said he is keen on launching an investigation on the case of Kian Loyd delos Santos, a 17-year-old student.

Delos Santos died after he was shot during an Oplan Galugad operation in Barangay 160 in Caloocan Wednesday night.

“Yang kaso ng 17-year-old iimbestigahan ko yan, may mga ebidensya eh. We must be fair,” Gordon said in an interview.

Gordon said authorities implementing President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war must not resort to “overkill.”

“You cannot fight the drug menace by just killing. You must go to the source,” he said. “Instead of killing, you arrest the street pusher, and then ask: ‘who’s your supplier?’, and when your arrest the supplier, ask: ‘who’s your source?”

Authorities claimed that Delos Santos attempted to flee when they were approaching him. Police chased him but the victim allegedly drew a gun and fired at them, forcing them to fire back.

Recovered from Delos Santos were a caliber-.45  and two sachets of suspected shabu. His relatives, however, said the items do not belong to him.

A CCTV footage, however, showed that cops appeared to be carrying the victim, contrary to police claims that he resisted and took off.

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said he plans to file a resolution to look into Delos Santos’ death.

“Makikita naman natin na hindi siya bumunot ng baril dahil dala-dala siya sa sulok kaya kailangan itong maimbestigahan at maparusahan ang mga nasa likod nito,” Aquino said in a statement.

Aquino said the government should rethink its strategy in its campaign against illegal drugs, saying the poor and helpless are casualties in this war while those involved in big drug cases are accorded due process.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also called for a Senate probe on the death of Delos Santos. He said steps must be taken “ to ensure that police impunity will never become the status quo in the Philippines.”

Delos Santos’ death is one of the cases in recent deadly drug operations in Metro Manila. Separate police raids targeting drug suspects were also conducted recently in Bulacan, killing 32.

‘Criminals’

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, for his part, said the cops involved in Delos Santos’ death are “criminals.”

“The CCTV footage and eyewitness account clearly show that the boy was killed. The police officers involved are not only abusive, they are killers and criminals,” Escudero said.

Escudero called on Duterte and PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to “act swiftly” on the matter.

Senator JV Ejercito also called on the PNP to investigate what he said was a “disturbing” incident.

“I have always supported legitimate law enforcement operations to further the President's war against drugs. But we need to protect innocent civilians and avoid senseless loss of lives,” he said in a text message.

The Caloocan police chief has said they will investigate the student’s death. Three cops involved in the killing of Delos Santos was already relieved from their posts.

Malacañang, meanwhile, assured that Duterte will not tolerate police abuses, saying Delos Santos’ case was an isolated incident. — RSJ, GMA News