(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Dec. 3, gave the assurance he would not pardon the three policemen convicted of killing Kian delos Santos.
“No. Of course not. Maybe one million years from now,” Duterte said.
According to Duterte, he would only come to the defense of policemen who may be considered to have committed criminal acts but in the performance of their duties.
On Nov. 29, the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 125 sentenced P03 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz to reclusion perpetua for the murder of Delos Santos.
They were however cleared of the planting of evidence cases filed against them.
The police had argued Delos Santos, then 17 years old, was killed by operatives who had to defend themselves after the boy shot at them during an anti-drug operation.
This was, however, belied by footage from closed-circuit television camera in the area and by witnesses, who said Delos Santos was dragged in a corner where he was shot.