Page 35 - SEPTEMBER 2017 B ISSUE

September 2017 / Fortnightly – No. 18 • UK & Europe Edition
Kian is dead, Duterte’s words
have a life of their own
PRESIDENT Duterte’s statement,
finally, on the police killing of Kian delos Murdered teener Kian Lloyd delos Santos
Santos seems to hit all the right notes.
The President said he will not stand in
the way of a credible investigation, and
he will in fact back the prosecution of
Kian’s arresting officers. He discredited
the police’s own scrambling to demonize
their young victim, only now that he is
too dead to defend his name. Kian was
never on anybody’s drug watch list until
after his death, officers admitted…
before proceeding to rationalize
his execution on a sudden flood of
“intelligence” that “confirm” his – and
his father’s and uncle’s – previously
unknown activities as drug runners and
neighborhood thugs. President Duterte
says he doubts the belated “intel” will
stand up in court.
These words, as all words,
matter. Coming from the President
especially, they carry weight and moral
force, if not not-so-subtle directives
across all politicized branches of
Philippine leadership. Kian’s family is
understandably more hopeful that the
arresting officers will be put behind
bars. For the family’s sake, people would
be right to share in and encourage that
prayer for a credible probe, prosecution,
and punishment.
If there is any hope that flickers,
however – whether for Kian’s peace or
a nation’s larger concerns for Justice –
credit must go not to President Duterte’s
measured words, but to the only thing
that caused the firebrand to at least be
sober. Hold all applause for what we
DOJ opens preliminary investigation
of Kian’s case; cops’ lawyers clash
with PAO
MANILA – The Department of
Justice on Thursday opened the
preliminary investigation of the
murder and torture of 17-year old
student Kian Lloyd de los Santos,
with lawyers for four cop-respondents
clashing with the chief public attorney
over the inclusion in criminal charges
of policemen who just happened to be
at the Caloocan police station when
the schoolboy was murdered, but had
no role in the anti-drug sweep on the
night of Aug. 17.
Present at the hearing were the
family of Kian, Public Attorney’s
Office (PAO) chief Atty. Persida Acosta
and some witnesses. These included
neighbors of minor age who saw
Kian being dragged away by police,
belying the cops’ official version that
Kian had a gun and fought them
while being arrested in an anti-drugs
NEWS www.hello-philippines.com 35
Imagine what Duterte, Bato, or escorting him to his death. And no one
No to all of the above. Ernesto Abella would be saying had can deny Mayor Duterte’s wisened tips
(left) and President Rodrigo Duterte. If we are honest about the President there been no forlorn camera keeping to his cops even before Kian was killed.
and about ourselves, all that has caused watch over a nighttime barangay President Duterte insists: “I only vowed
find at the root of this surprising resolve Kian’s death to be handled differently – basketball shootaround. Imagine the to protect policemen who do their
and unstoppable movement in Kian’s by the police, the government, senators, headlines had there simply been no jobs. They can only kill if their lives
name: congressmen, politicians, the Left in electricity. Government’s messaging are in danger.” But there is also this: If
a falling out with Duterte, media, and would likely be similar to when a anybody fights, if they shoot back, then
Why can the police not count on by the public – has nothing to do with power-outage did in fact cut CCTVs by all means, kill. If there is no gun,
protection? Because the President will epiphanies and values. The simple and cloaked the deadly raid on the give him a gun. Certainly, do not worry,
not assure it in this case. truth from which all drama and hope Parojinogs in Ozamiz. Leaders can because the President can assure you of
emanate: there was CCTV. take headlines raising questions. Public pardon.
And why not here, why not now, It was functioning. Its contents outrage, for its part, will be as muted as
when Mr. Duterte had time and again made it to Facebook. No one could that for the thousands that have been These words, as all words, matter.
assured all policemen fighting his war deny what they saw. Not your killed in the drug war without benefit of The prosecution of Kian’s killers
on drugs of his own power to pardon, President, and not your FB friends. shared videos you cannot avoid. bears no guarantee that that guidance
should it come to that? Because until And that is the only thing different. has been lifted. Indeed, we imagine the
Kian’s death, government had not seen Though the police DID try to deny, that If only policemen don’t get caught lesson for cops now is not to no longer
outrage so universal, so galvanized, is all there is to it. Kian’s murderers on camera, things would be so much take the President at his word. There is
and, frankly, so convinced. will meet justice not by the courage simpler. And yet the most chilling fact only gamely taking a hard slap on the
of truth nor the resolve of people, exposed by the CCTV footage is not that backside of their heads: “And don’t get
And what is behind that but simply by the inconvenience of Kian’s arresting officers were stupid. It is caught.”
unmistakable resolve? Is it civil society? getting caught on camera. that they were brazen. It is not that they All this is to say – Yes, thank you,
Is it media? Is it, finally, empathy did not know. They did not care. by all means: Justice for Kian! But do
for thousands killed without due not credit the President for anything
process? Is it, finally, an appreciation And it is not that nobody had said more than standing down in the face
for due process? An uncompromising, all of this before, it is that many have of uneditable footage. Neither should
principled and collective demand for refused to hear. we flatter each other for something that
rule of law? has yet to be won, or even fought for.
The President can cite drugs as To stand up for Kian is not the same
the cause of everything from crime as standing up to the irresponsibility
to insurgencies and corruption in the of the President’s reckless words and
Bureau of Customs, but at the root of his telling actions, and demanding
people’s outrage with Kian’s death is accountability for every life lost in the
not their fear of drugs, but their distrust name of a proudly wild war on drugs.
of a police force that has long been Justice for Kian does not call for
perceived as corrupt and enabled. And an end to impunity, does not demand
gnawing at that: the President’s own the return of rule of law, does not a
words that have further corrupted and movement make. Not yet. n InterAksyon |
further enabled.
August 23, 2017, 6:19 PM
No one can deny that that was
Kian held on either side by policemen
over respondents’ list
sweep in a Caloocan community on the site several meters away, unreached by
night of Aug. 17. any CCTV, from where neighbors heard
At least 17 witnesses submitted their shots. His body was found slumped in a
statements to the DOJ. former pigsty near the creek.
The police officers who are suspects Atty. Acosta filed a motion to
in the complaints filed by Kian’s family subpoena the records of the PNP-
and the National Bureau of Investigation Internal Affairs Service, saying this FIle photo of Kian Loyd
delos Santos from his
also attended the hearing. would help the prosecution determine Facebook account
The prosecution first resolved the the identities of the 12 John Does earlier slapped with administrative
cases at the PNP-IAS just happened to
consolidation of the complaints filed by who were also allegedly involved in be co-workers of the accused officers Sept. 25, also tagging that date as the
in the precinct in question, and had deadline for submission of counter-
NBI and the family. the operation, besides the four police no participation in the mission that affidavits of the respndents.
led to Kian’s death.
PAO, meanwhile, also submitted the officers facing charges. The complainants must reply to
Acosta countered that it is up to the such counter-affidavits on Oct. 2.
findings of the forensic examination Police Officer2 Arnel Oares, PO1 prosecutors to decide whether to include
the other policemen who claimed they Submission of rejoinders is on Oct.
done on Kian’s remains, which indicated Jerwin Cruz and PO1 Jeremias Pereda just happened to be companions of the 10.
respondents in the police station.
Kian was tortured before he was are facing charges along with their According to the prosecution,
The DOJ set the next hearing for the suspects will not be given any
shot repeatedly, while in a vulnerable superior, Supt. Amor Cerillo.. extension for submitting their
counter-affidavits. n JV Arcena, News5 |
position. At the hearing, Acosta and the
InterAksyon | September 14, 2017, 3:11 PM
Besides the eyewitness’ accounts, lawyer of the respondents, Oliver
CCTV at a basketball court in the Yuan, argued over the inclusion in
neighborhood had shown an unarmed the criminal cases of all policemen
Kian being pinned between two police who were with the respondents. Yuan
officers, who dragged him away to a stressed that many of those who were