(Eagle News) — The Palace on Saturday urged the public to “trust the justice system,” as the 17-year-old boy who was killed in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan was laid to rest.
“Let us allow the legal process to run its course…,” China Jocson, assistant to the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement.
According to Jocson, the President “has reminded our law enforcement officers in numerous occasions that he will not tolerate their wrongdoings or illegal acts..”
Jocson added the filing of a criminal complaint by Kian Delos Santos’ family with the assistance of the Public Attorneys Office “underscores this resolve of the government.”
The murder charges and charges for violation of the Anti-Torture Law were filed against P01 Jeremias Pereda, P01 Jerwin Cruz and P03 Arnel Oares on Friday.
Also facing the charges are Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, commander of the police community precinct 7 where Pereda, Cruz and Oares were assigned; and other “John Does” who took part in the operation on Aug. 16.
The police had said Delos Santos had fired at them as they were approaching him, prompting them to retaliate.
But the boy’s father, Zaldy, disputed the Caloocan policemen’s account, saying that footage from the barangay’s closed-circuit television camera showed the 17-year-old boy was being dragged by the police.
He said his son could not have fired at the police then.
The Senate committee on public order and dangerous has opened an inquiry into Delos Santos’ death.
The Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service has also recommended the filing of administrative charges against the policemen who took part in the operation, which it said appeared to have “lapses.”
Delos Santos was buried in the La Loma Cemetery in Quezon City on Saturday afternoon.