Palace: Kian's death wake-up call but drug war to go on

MANILA, Philippines — As it faces the strongest criticism to date yet of its campaign to eliminate narcotics, Malacañang admitted on Friday that the death of a senior high school teenager in Caloocan City was a “wake-up call” to reform government institutions.

The Palace, however, clarified that the war on drugs would continue despite the mounting number of deaths and bloody trail it was leaving behind.

The need to reform governmental institutions, including law enforcement agencies, was a challenge President Rodrigo Duterte articulated since the beginning of his improbable campaign for the presidency last year, according to Ernesto Abella, the president’s spokesman.

Abella defended the president and said that he had made it clear that the war on drugs was not a “license to break the law,” in direct contradiction to Duterte’s statements in the past year.

Although the president has warned cops against abuses despite vowing protection from prosecution, the president in the past seemed to have suggested planting evidence in crime scenes.

He said in December that police should give suspects a gun to make it appear that they tried offering violent resistance.

Then in July, he told cops to shoot suspects who fight back and make them fight if they wouldn’t.

“He has already directed a fair and impartial investigation on the death of Kian Delos Santos as he assures the public that he would not tolerate any illegal act or wrongdoing committed by erring policemen,” he said. “Those found responsible would be held accountable before the law.”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday, however, questioned the impartiality of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in conducting the probe. Drilon, a former justice chief himself, said that Aguirre was obviously protecting the cops.

He said that the Office of the Ombudsman should conduct the probe instead, a suggestion Aguirre turned down.

The public furor being expressed over the death of Delos Santos is the most serious Duterte has faced since the beginning of his drug war in July 2016.

Even traditionally supportive senators in the majority caucus have expressed outrage over the killing.

However, the president seems undeterred and relentless in pursuing his major domestic initiative.

“This incident, however, would not deter the administration from the task of reducing criminality and illegal drugs. The campaign against illegal drugs would continue,” Abella said, in consonance with the president’s past declarations that it would be pursued relentlessly.

The presidential spokesperson said that this should serve as a reminder for the cops to follow the proper conduct of operations and to adhere to the rule of law and due process.