Senate majority to probe Kian’s death

Senators signed a resolution on Sunday condemning the “recent spate of police abuses”, mainly the killing of the 17-year-old student Kian Delos Santos. (Photo by Michealina Vallarta David/Philippine Canadian Inquirer)

In the midst of national outrage on the apparent ‘one time, big time’ anti-illegal drug operations of the Duterte administration, the Senate majority seeks to conduct probe over the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos in Caloocan City on Wednesday night, August 16.

Senators signed a resolution on Sunday condemning the “recent spate of police abuses”, mainly the killing of Delos Santos.

“Expressing the sense of the senate to condemn the killing of Kian Delos Santos and to direct the appropriate senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation to determine the accountability of the Philippine National Police in the conduct of the campaign against illegal drugs that may have resulted in unnecessary and unjustified deaths and/or killings,” the resolution read.

Several recent drug operations conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNA) were also included in the resolution.

The resolution was signed by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and other senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Win Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan, Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Grace Poe, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Miguel Zubiri.

The senate’s resolution regarded the recent operations as “excessive and unnecessary.”

“And to direct the appropriate senate committee to inquire and review the conduct of anti-drug operations by the PNP as well as capacitating the PNP as an institution to hold erring officials within their ranks liable for commission of any crime or offense,” the resolution read.

“While government institutions that are tasked with leading the campaign against illegal drugs must be fully empowered to undertake their responsibilities, they should, with equal fervor, be held accountable to the Filipino people in the conduct of this campaign.”

Taking their parts in the investigation, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) are also separately conducting an inquiry over Kian’s death.

On Sunday, Senators Ejercito and Villanueva shared a photo on their twitter accounts of their majority caucus; directing appropriate committee to conduct investigation.

ATM: Majority Caucus. pic.twitter.com/pV32P4fOhH

— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) August 20, 2017

Majority Senators show solidarity by condemning killing of Kian Loyd Delos Santos & directing appropriate committe to conduct investigation. pic.twitter.com/v7O2fqkrlz

— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) August 20, 2017