Senate majority condemns Kian’s slay, calls for probe

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Senate majority bloc on Sunday signed a resolution condemning the killing of a 17-year-old senior high school student in a Caloocan City police anti-drug operation.

The senate majority convened on Sunday to come up with a resolution that does not only condemn Kian Delos Santos’ and other drug-related deaths but also probe the killings.

The 17 senators who signed the resolution wrote that they also wanted to direct the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation and determine the accountability of the Philippine National Police in the conduct of its campaign against illegal drugs. They said that the crackdown against illegal drugs may have resulted in “unnecessary and unjustified deaths and/or killings.”

“Now therefore, be it resolved, as it is hereby resolved by the Senate, to express its condemnation against the recent spate of abuses by the police resulting in excessive and unnecessary deaths in the conduct of the campaign against illegal drugs,” the resolution read.

“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,” it added.

A Senate panel led by Sen. Richard Gordon held hearings on drug-related killings last year. As chairman, Gordon declared that there was no evidence that the killings were sanctioned by the state.

The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs has also held hearings on police matters in the past. The panel is led by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP director general.

READ: Gordon dares colleagues: Present evidence on EJKs | Gordon not keen on holding 'pay per kill' probe

The resolution cited Delos Santos' death as well as drug operations in Bulacan and Manila that led to several deaths. Around 80 supposed drug suspects were killed in police operations last week, which has prompted the Commission on Human Rights to dispatch field investigators.

READ: 'Maganda 'yun': President praises bloody Bulacan raids

The Senate resolution cited that eyewitness and CCTV footage contradict police claims that Delos Santos engaged them in a shootout during the operation.

“Whereas, in conducting the campaign of the Duterte administration against illegal drugs, the government must always ensure that no innocent lives are unnecessarily lost and that those within the ranks of the police or any government agency should be held fully accountable for any crime offense,” the resolution read.

The 17 senators who signed the resolution included Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, and Senate President Pro-Tempore  Ralph Recto.

The other senators who signed the resolution are as follows:

• Sen. Sonny Angara

• Sen. Nancy Binay

• Sen. JV Ejercito

• Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero

• Sen. Win Gatchalian

• Sen. Richard Gordon

• Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan

• Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson

• Sen. Loren Legarda

• Sen. Manny Pacquiao

• Sen. Grace Poe

• Sen. Joel Villanueva

• Sen. Cynthia Villar

• Sen. Miguel Zubiri

Some of these senators last Friday condemned the drug-related killings and expressed intention to probe Delos Santos’s death.

Both senators Ejercito and Villanueva shared a photo of their caucus last Sunday on their social media accounts.

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

— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) August 20, 2017

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

— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) August 20, 2017

The Senate majority's call for a probe comes on the heels of that of the minority bloc, which said over the weekend that they would seek Senate hearings on Delos Santos' death.