Philstar.com photo by Marc Jayson Cayabyab
THREE Philippine police officers have been found guilty this week for the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos in August 2017, considered one of the most high-profile cases associated with President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.
Police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz were sentenced by the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 125 to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in prison with no possibility of parole.
However, the three were acquitted of charges of planting illegal drugs and a gun “for failure of the prosecution to prove the guilt beyond reasonable doubts.”
In the 35-page court decision, Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. recognized the danger that the police force encounters on a daily basis. He noted that the court greatly acknowledges the trouble that comes with the call of their duty.
“The court commiserates with our policemen who regularly thrust their lives in zones of danger in order to maintain peace and order and acknowledges the apprehension faced by their families whenever they go on duty,” Azucena wrote.
However, he stated that such recognition does not excuse the cops’ disregard for the value of human life. He noted that violence will never be the solution let alone be welcomed in the country.
“But the use of unnecessary force or wanton violence is not justified when the fulfillment of their duty as law enforcers can be effected otherwise. A shoot first, think later attitude can never be countenanced in a civilized society,” Azucena added.
Aside from serving prison time, the three police officers were obligated to compensate Delos Santos’ living family members for damages. The court ordered the cops to pay P100,000 as civil indemnity, P100,000 as moral damages, P45,000 as actual damages and P100,000 as exemplary damages with interest on all damages hereby awarded at the rate of 6 percent per annum from the finality of the decision until fully paid.
Delos Santos was murdered on the night of August 16 last year. The Caloocan police force dubbed the raid as a “One Time, Big Time” operation. A certain Renato “Nonong” Loveras tagged Delos Santos as a drug runner. The court issued an arrest warrant for Loveras.
In an earlier statement, Caloocan police claimed that Delos Santos fought back. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage, however, showed that Delos Santos was dragged by the police officers toward the Tullahan River.
Delos Santos was later found dead in a kneeling position which led the investigation team to believe he was killed execution style. His murder sparked public outrage, prompting even vocal supporters of the government’s bloody war on drugs to voice their criticisms. It also led to transferring the drug crackdown operations from the Philippine National Police to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Malacañang welcomed the court’s decision on Thursday with Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo saying the verdict is “testament that there is, in this country, a robust judicial system, a working judicial system.”
He also told reporters that “if the conviction is murder, which is intentional, then I don’t think the president will pardon [them].”
Duterte previously backtracked on statements indicating pardons for cops who were involved in abuses, and instead said that he would “protect those who are doing their duty.”
