Palace: Deeper drug war probe warranted

MANILA, Philippines — Calls for a deeper investigation into drug war killings are reinforced by the Supreme Court (SC)’s ruling affirming the conviction of three police officers for murdering 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, a Palace official said yesterday.

Malacañang still needs to review the SC decision, Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said.

Police killed Delos Santos in 2017 during an anti-narcotics operation in Caloocan.

“This development underscores the need to consider the proposal from the Church, civil society and some members of Congress for an independent truth commission to probe more deeply these extrajudicial killings,” Gomez said.

Several House bills have been filed, seeking the creation of a truth commission to probe killings linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.

Monetary and non-monetary reparations for victims are also being sought under House Bill 6686, filed by the Mambabatas para sa Karapatang Pantao coalition.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, welcomed yesterday the high court’s decision to affirm the conviction of former Caloocan policemen Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz.

Facing life in prison, the three have been ordered to jointly pay Delos Santos’ family P275,000 in damages.

Hontiveros said Delos Santos’ death, followed by the killing of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, showed systematic killings in the drug war.

Acting Philippine National Police chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. lauded the SC decision.

Duterte is detained in The Hague, facing crimes against humanity charges. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas