THE Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs will open its investigation into the police killing of teenager Kian Loyd delos Santos on Thursday, August 24, Senator Panfilo Lacson said.
The Senate investigation, as agreed by majority of the senators during an emergency caucus Sunday, will be separate from those being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of Justice (DOJ).
As this developed, the PNP has placed Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, police station commander of Caloocan City, on “administrative relief” effective Monday.
The four policemen allegedly involved in the killing of Delos Santos -- Police Officer (PO) 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremiah Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz and their precinct commander, Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo -- were placed under restrictive custody. They were earlier ordered relieved.
Delos Santos, a Grade 11 student from Libis, Caloocan, was killed by police officers as part of the large-scale crackdown against illegal drugs last August 16.
Witnesses said Delos Santos was forced by the police to hold a gun and packs of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu.
He was further told to fire the gun and run, witnesses added.
The teener reportedly asked what he was supposed to do with the gun and pleaded for the police officers to stop, saying he still had test in school the next day.
Surveillance camera footage showed Delos Santos was dragged by policemen to the spot where he was found dead.
His killing has sparked outrage across all sectors and galvanized various groups into protest actions.
Lacson, a former PNP chief, said his committee will zero in on the camera footage.
He said the police leadership has a lot of explaining to do on the spate of killings and the alleged quota system in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Lacson hinted that the case might even affect the organization’s budget.
“They must explain before the investigating committee the alleged police ‘quota’ system in the campaign against illegal drugs. This is alarming because this can be the very reason why lawmen are encouraged to create a scenario. Para mahabol lang yung score or yung tinatawag na quota (So they would meet their quota),” Lacson said.
Those who will be invited to the Senate inquiry include: parents of Kian; Caloocan policemen allegedly behind the killing of Delos Santos; PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa; and representatives from the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation and Caloocan barangay.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Monday, August 21, that the teener’s family may apply for protection under the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP).
“If they will apply, we are willing to consider them to the WPP,” Aguirre said.
Aguirre earlier ordered the NBI to conduct a parallel investigation on Delos Santos’ death.
Department Order 546 directs NBI Director Dante Gierran to conduct an investigation and case build-up on the death of Delos Santos and to file appropriate charges against the involved policemen.
On Friday, Dela Rosa also ordered an investigation. He said police officers will be sanctioned if found liable for irregularities.
Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, PNP spokesperson, said Bersaluna, police station commander of Caloocan City, was placed on “administrative relief” effective Monday as a “procedural measure” while the four officers involved in killing Delos Santos were placed under restrictive custody. (PS Jun M. Sarmiento/PNA/VoxPop Philippines)