Palace cites ‘rhyme and reason’ in drug war

MANILA, Philippines - He killing of 17-year-old Kian Lloyd delos Santos by the police in Caloocan City was an “isolated case,” Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella defended the police action as part of President Duterte’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs.

“The perspective of the President has been very clear from the beginning. This is not a reckless exercise of bloodletting. There’s rhyme and reason in the police operations,” Abella said.

He said Duterte’s war against illegal drugs has led to a more stable peace and order situation in the country.

“First and foremost, that statement was not manufactured by me. It is feedback … the general feedback of people,” Abella said, before quickly categorizing the killing of Delos Santos as an “isolated case.”

Police claimed Delos Santos tried to flee when he saw the lawmen approaching him during a drug sting in Libis Baesa, Barangay 160 late Wednesday.

Policemen gave chase but Delos Santos allegedly pulled out a handgun and opened fire, triggering a brief firefight.

Delos Santos was killed during the exchange of fire, according to police who added Delos Santos had a .45 automatic and two sachets of shabu.

His relatives however disputed the police claims, saying the gun and the drugs were planted.

The relatives showed a barangay security video showing two men dragging Delos Santos with them.

Witnesses said the policemen handed the handgun to Delos Santos and ordered him to run before shooting him down.

The three policemen involved – PO3 Arnel Oares, and PO1s Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz – were ordered suspended along with their superior, Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, commander of the Police Community Precinct 7 of Caloocan City.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde ordered the policemen reassigned to the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) and face an investigation.

“The four policemen would be dismissed from the police service once evidence warrants. We have many recruits who are very willing to replace them,” Albayalde said.

Albayalde added Delos Santos was not among the list of known drug offenders in the area.

Some of the neighbors however claimed the Grade 11 student was a drug courier.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa ordered a thorough investigation into the killing of Delos Santos.

Dela Rosa stressed policemen cannot just shoot dead any individual under the President’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“That is basic. As long as the suspect does not put the policeman in grave danger, there is no reason why the policeman will shoot the suspect. Otherwise, the policeman will have to justify the killing and if there is evidence …we’ll see so we have to investigate this,” Dela Rosa said.

He warned policemen that they cannot easily get away with abuses by using the cover of the illegal drug campaign.

“We will investigate that. We will not let them get away with it… killing a 17-year-old in cold blood?” Dela Rosa remarked.

–Non Alquitran, Rey Galupo, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Evelyn Macairan