Malacañang on Tuesday said it would review the Supreme Court decision affirming the murder conviction of police officers in the killing of teenager Kian delos Santos in 2017, noting that the ruling reinforces calls for a deeper investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings during the controversial war on drugs of the previous administration.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the Palace has yet to fully study the High Court’s decision.
“We still need to review the Supreme Court decision,” Gomez said.
He said the development highlights the relevance of proposals from various sectors to establish an independent body to examine cases of alleged extrajudicial killings.
“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 into these extrajudicial killings,” Gomez added.
In a 40-page decision made public on Monday, the SC’s Second Division found police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder and sentenced them to up to 40 years in prison, and ordered them to pay the teen’s family PHP275,000 in damages.
Delos Santos, then a Grade 11 student, was summarily killed during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in 2017, a case that drew widespread public outrage and became emblematic of alleged abuses linked to the drug war under former president Rodrigo Duterte.
The ruling is widely seen as a significant affirmation of accountability within law enforcement and the justice system.
Duterte is currently detained in The Hague for crimes against humanity charges before the International Criminal Court due to his brutal war on drugs during his stint as Davao City Mayor and president. (PNA)
