Palace: Kian killing led to clarification of Duterte’s policy on drug war

The killing of teenage student Kian delos Santos by policemen was significant in shaping the government's anti-illegal drugs policy, Malacañang said.

"The death anniversary is significant because this incident led to the President’s clarification on his official pronouncement on the drug war: He will support the police if the killing is legal, he will prosecute the police if the killing is illegal," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said at a news conference on Thursday.

Delos Santos died on August 16, 2017, in one of the bloodiest weeks in the government's war on illegal drugs.

Caloocan City policemen claimed he was a drug runner who opened fire on them to evade arrest near Tullahan River in Barangay 160, Caloocan.

However, CCTV footage and accounts of witnesses appear to contradict the cops' claims, sparking public outrage over the campaign against illegal drugs, which has claimed thousands of lives since Duterte assumed office in June 2016.

Several policemen are now facing murder charges in court in connection with Delos Santos' death.

Duterte met with Delos Santos' family days after his death and ordered then-Philippine National Police chief Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to immediately jail the policemen involved. — BM, GMA News