Duterte assures he won’t pardon 3 convicted cops in Kian Delos Santos slay

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte sings a song after leading the Christmas tree-lighting ceremony of the Office of the President (OP) at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañang on December 3, 2018. Also in the photo is Presidential Daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Just when Human Rights Group (HRW) earlier thought that President Rodrigo Duterte will pardon the three policemen convicted for killing teenager Kian delos Santos, the Chief Executive did otherwise.

“Of course not. Maybe one million years from now. [In] one billion years, okay na (it would be okay),” Duterte told reporters on Monday, December 3.

Last Thursday, Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 125 found Police Officer (PO) 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz guilty of murdering delos Santos, a 17-year-old whom the police alleged was a drug dealer, and sentenced them to reclusion perpetua or imprisonment of 20 to 40 years without eligibility of parole.

[READ: Caloocan court convicts cops in Kian delos Santos slay of murder]

The teenager was killed during an anti-narcotics operation in August 2017.

Many senators and even various groups, including HRW, lauded the court’s ruling; however, the international watchdog expressed its concern that the President might pardon the three cops.

“We are also wary because Duterte has promised to pardon police officers convicted in the ‘drug war’ killings,” HRW Asia Director Brad Adams had said.

“There is [a] reason to suspect that he will keep that promise,” he added.

But Duterte clarified that his promise only covers uniformed men who were accused of a crime when they were just performing their duties.

“If they commit some acts which would be considered criminal but done in the performance of their duties, hindi ko iiwanan ‘yan kundi papatayin ako ng mga sundalo ko pati pulis kasi ako ang nag-utos sa kanila ng ganon (I will not leave them because if I do, my soldiers and policemen will kill me because I gave that order to them),” he said.

“Pero (But) for you to murder, hindi kasali ‘yan (that is not included),” he added.

Calling the conviction of the cops a “triumph of justice,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has earlier assured that Duterte will not extend pardon to Oares, Pereda, and Cruz, stressing that the President will not tolerate such illegal act.