Duterte to jail cops involved in Kian's slay if found guilty

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte yesterday vowed to bring to jail the policemen involved in the killing of 17-year old student Kian delos Santos if they are found guilty of criminal acts.

 

Duterte, who promised to protect policemen involved in his intensified war on illegal drugs, said the killing of Delos Santos should be investigated to determine if law enforcers have criminal liability.

 

“I saw the tape on TV and I agreed that there should be [an] investigation. Should the investigation point to a liability, there will be a prosecution and they have to go to jail if convicted. That I can assure you,” the president told reporters in a late night press conference.

 

“Let’s wait for [the] investigation. If the investigation points out to criminal liability, I will order the prosecution to the full extent of the law. That I can guarantee you,” he added.

 

READ: Dela Rosa sorry over boy's death, defends drug war killings

 

Duterte assured the public that there would be no whitewash in the investigation.

 

“There will be no luto-luto (whitewash) there,” he said.

 

WATCH: President Duterte on cops behind #KianDelosSantos killing @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/RA13pv2dd7

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 21, 2017

 

Duterte said it is still premature to comment on reports that Delos Santos was a drug runner. He said he decided not to issue statements after the incident because the Justice department had ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to probe the killing.

 

READ: Kian’s dad denies drug ties, says Bato should check police intelligence

 

“The most prudent thing for me to do is shut up and wait for [the] result of [the] investigation,” the President said.

 

When asked if he would pardon the policemen involved in the killing of Delos Santos, Duterte replied: “I saw the evidence that’s why I called Bato (Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa). I said arrest them and place them behind bars.” 

 

WATCH: Duterte on why he will not visit #KianDelosSantos wake @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/N0FqVvjXRf

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 21, 2017

 

Delos Santos, a Grade 11 student, was killed in the police’s intensified anti-drug operations in Caloocan City last Wednesday. His death has sparked outrage among activists and some politicians and has raised doubts about the way the police conduct anti-drug operations.

 

Policemen involved in the operation claimed that Delos Santos drew a gun and fired at them, prompting them to shoot him. A closed-circuit television camera footage, however, showed the policemen carrying the boy, contradicting the claim that Delos Santos fired at them.

 

READ: Kian shot in the back, head; cops face murder raps

 

Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, the Caloocan City police chief, and four other policemen have been relieved from their posts pending the investigation of the incident.

 

Critics and allies of Duterte in Congress have condemned the killing and have called for an impartial probe of the circumstances that led to Delos Santos’ death.

 

Duterte said he was not discounting he possibility that some politicians are exploiting the issue to malign him. He said he does not mind being ousted over his crackdown on illegal drugs.

 

“Go ahead, lahat kayong gusto maghimagsikan, do it. I’ll be glad if you do it because the system is rotten in government,” he said.

 

“If you want a war against government, go ahead, I’m encouraging you…If you take violence, go ahead let's find out.”

 

READ: 17-year-old's death jolts senators to speak vs killings

 

WATCH: Duterte on suspects fighting back and killing policemen @PhilippineStar @PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/n3qwWdLsBI

— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) August 22, 2017