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PO1 Jerwin Cruz, PO3 Arnel Oares and PO1 Jeremias Pereda | Photo
Balita
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Thursday, November 29, 2018, Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. of the Caloocan
City Regional Trial Court (RTC) handed down a guilty verdict against 3
Caloocan police officers for the murder of 17-year-old Kian delos
Santos. A total of just 470 days separated the young man’s murder, to
the day Judge Azucena rendered his verdict—lightning speed for the
normally lethargic Philippine justice system.
Lian Buan of Rappler
writes that “Police Officer III (PO3) Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda,
and PO1 Jerwin Cruz were convicted of murder on Thursday, November 29,
by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) for killing Kian delos
Santos during a One Time Big Time (OTBT) operation under the
administration's banner campaign against drugs.”
Dan Manglinong in his
article in Interaksyon notes that “the police claimed that Delos Santos
was an armed drug pusher who fired at them during the operation even
though CCTV footage showed the student being dragged to his knees to the
direction of a tunnel near the Tullahan River near Barangay 160,
Valenzuela City, where his body was found.” Manglinong also notes that
“Some of the witnesses claimed that Delos Santos was given a gun and
told to run.”
None of the events
surrounding Kian delos Santos’ murder is unusual, as most Filipinos now
agree. The level of impunity with which law enforcement operates in this
current environment where extra-judicial killings continue unabated, has
human rights groups across the globe demanding answers and
accountability.
What is unusual—and has
likely raised eyebrows across the country—is the fact that we have a
judge who, in rendering his verdict, states that “never has homicide or
murder been a function of law enforcement. The public peace is never
predicated on the cost of human life.”
Now if only our public
servants in government offices and police precincts across our
7,100-plus islands take a cue from Judge Azucena, and start respecting
each and every Filipino life, then there might be hope for this country.
And tomorrow’s Pinoys might have a brighter future than we have today.
Published: 11/30/2018 |
