Kian Delos Santos was murdered by police officers in a Manila alleyway in 2017
The first conviction of police officers carrying out the Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte's, war on drugs has been praised by human rights advocates.
The three Philippine policemen were sentenced on Thursday to up to 40 years in prison without parole, for murdering Kian Delos Santos, during an anti-narcotics sweep.
President Duterte has vowed to pardon authorities involved in his bloody crackdown, but even he refused to defend the 2017 killing in a dank Manila alley.
Police said the teenager was a drug courier who fired at them while resisting arrest. However, CCTV footage revealed two of the policemen dragging the unarmed boy moments before he was shot dead.
Delos Santos' mother, Lorenza, told reporters after the conviction: 'I feel so happy because this proves that my son was innocent and was never involved in drugs.
'(Policemen) can be jailed for life if they do not stop their abusive practices,' she added.
Police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz were found guilty of murder by a City of Caloocan trial court.
Two police officers (centre, wearing yellow) convicted of murder are taken out of a trial court building by police in the City of Caloocan, Philippines
Police officers Arnel Oares, Jerwin Cruz and Jeremias Pereda were found guilty of the teen's killing. Pictured in 2017
Saldy delos Santos, father of Kian delos Santos, stands next to the coffin of his son who was killed during a police anti-drug operation, during a wake at his home in Manila. -
Delos Santos' family erupted in tears in the cramped northern Manila courtroom after the men were convicted of murder and sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
Drug war critics hailed the conviction as an example of justice and accountability, which they said have been rare since Duterte unleashed the campaign to rid the Philippines of narcotics in 2016
Since then police say they have killed nearly 5,000 alleged drug users and pushers who fought against arrest, while rights groups say the true toll is at least triple that and may amount to crimes against humanity.
Carlos Conde, Philippines researcher for Human Rights Watch, told AFP: 'This is a warning to the Philippine National Police that they better follow due process and respect the rights of suspects.'
However, Duterte's spokesman Salvador Panelo also welcomed the ruling as he gave assurances the president opposed 'intentional killing'.
He added: 'It shows that this country has a robust judicial system.'
Duterte's government has argued a preliminary probe of the drug war killings launched by the International Criminal Court is unjustified because the nation's justice system is functioning.
Human rights advocates agreed the decision was important, but noted that it only involved low-ranking policemen.
'Who gave the orders? Was this part of a policy? These questions remain unanswered,' rights lawyer Romel Bagares said.
A photo of Kian Delos Santos, 17, on top of the hearse during his funeral on August 26, 2017
Funeral workers carry the body of one of three men killed during a police operation against illegal drugs in Caloocan, Metro Manila, Philippines, August 17, 2017
Police officers clear one side of a road to make way for a convoy transporting police officers convicted of murder in the City of Caloocan,
Duterte and his drug war are backed by many Filipinos fed up with high crime rates and a slow-moving judicial system.
But the death of Delos Santos, as well as of two other Manila teenagers accused of robbing a taxi driver, triggered rare street protests in 2017 and highlighted concerns about police abuse.
Days after the killing Duterte said in a speech: 'It was really bad. That was really not performance of duty. Do not commit a crime'.
It led to Duterte briefly suspending police participation in the drug crackdown for a second time.
The first occasion was in January last year after narcotics police officers were arrested for the kidnapping and murder of a South Korean businessman in 2016.
However, in both instances the police were reinstated in the campaign without major reforms.
Linkhienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/29/philippine-police-officers-sentenced-to-40-years-in-jail-for-killing-teen-in-war-on-drugs/
Main photo article
Kian Delos Santos was murdered by police officers in a Manila alleyway in 2017
The first conviction of police officers carrying out the Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte’s, war on drugs has been praised by human rights advocates.
The three Philippine policemen were sentenced on...
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Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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