Duterte vows justice for 17-year old boy if proven that cops murdered him

August 21, 2017

President Rodrigo Duterte vowed on Monday night justice would be served if the 17-year old boy was found to have been murdered by the policemen during their anti-drug operation in Caloocan City.

In a press conference in Malacanang, Duterte said when he saw the CCTV footage on the alleged killing of Kian Lloyd delos Santos, he immediately called up Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa and ordered him to detain the policemen involved in the operation.

"I saw the tape or tapes on the TV and I agree that there should be an investigation. Should the investigation point to liabilities of one, two or all, there will be a prosecution and they have to go to jail if convicted. That I can assure you," he said. "I will not interfere," he stressed. Duterte said the National Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe into the incident on the order of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aquirre III.

He said he is waiting for the result of the investigation.

There has been outrage over the series of anti-drug operations last week, resulting to the death of over 90 people, including Delos Santos.

Duterte admitted he could not discount the possibility that in some police operations, there could be abuses.

Asked if he was not concerned that with his order to investigate those involved in the death of Delos Santos, he could lose the support of the policemen, Duterte said, "we can only agree on what is right and legal. I do not care if you lose your trust in me."

He said it is not the duty of the policemen to murder those who were surrendering.

Duterte added that for those who were calling for "upheaval" against him, he would welcome it.

He said he would not stop people from going to the streets.  But there should be no violence, otherwise, he would do his job as president, he said. Celerina Monte/DMS