Palace distances self from Aguirre comments on Kian case
August 24, 2017 | 10:50am
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II takes a call as senators go into closed-door meeting during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2016. Paolo Romero/Twitter, file
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday distanced itself from Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II’s statement that the killing of 17-year-old suspected drug runner Kian delos Santos was “blown out of proportion.”
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the killing of delos Santos, which has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and politicians across parties, was a “serious matter.”
“There is depth and seriousness regarding the matter…that is the opinion of Secretary Aguirre. But from the Palace’s point of view, this is a serious matter. And we have given it due attention,” Abella said in a press briefing.
“But, on the other hand, it’s also wise to make sure that everything is continually in perspective,” he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that the death of the Grade 11 student was "really bad."
“What I reminded again the military and the police is that it should be in the performance of your duty. You are not allowed to kill a person who is kneeling down begging for his life. That is murder,” Duterte said during the inauguration of a solar cell factory in Batangas.
Delos Santos was killed by police in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City last Wednesday.
Police officials claimed that delos Santos had a gun and fired at arresting officers, forcing them to retaliate.
But witnesses said policemen gave the boy a gun and told him to flee before shooting him.
A security footage also showed law enforcers carrying delos Santos, raising questions on police claims that the boy fought with arresting officers.
Caloocan police told senators on Thursday that Kian's supposed drug ties — he was said to have been a drug runner — were validated through social media posts after his death.
President Duterte has vowed to jail police officers who commit crimes, saying he would not condone the killing of innocent people.
But in a recent budget hearing at the House of Representatives, Aguirre claimed that some groups have blown delos Santos’ death out of proportion.
The Justice chief also accused critics of using the incident to criticize Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.
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