Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 28) — Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Monday denied allegations that he was taking sides in the death of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos.
“It is farthest from the truth,” he said in a statement.
“I am on the side of the truth and of the rule of law. That is my only bias. Any act of murder perpetrated against any Filipino deserves condemnation and I will work to bring the ones responsible for such acts to get the full measure of our penal laws,” Aguirre added.
The Justice Secretary’s statement came amid calls for him to inhibit himself from handling Delos Santos’ case.
In the Aug. 24 Senate hearing on Kian’s death, Senator Franklin Drilon called out Aguirre for saying that Delos Santos’ death was an “isolated case” that has been “blown out of proportion.”
Read: Justice Secretary: Minors killed in drug war ‘collateral damage’
“Your bias to protect the policemen is so obvious. I do not see any indication that you are trying to seek a neutral path here,” Drilon told Aguirre.
Drilon then asked Aguirre if he would agree to allow the Ombudsman to do a preliminary investigation into Kian’s case, but Aguirre disagreed, saying it will put the Justice Department in bad light.
“It is also the perception of the people, if I agree with you, that we are incapable,” Aguirre said. “That’s why I do not want the people to have that kind of perception.”
In a Friday statement, Senator Risa Hontiveros said that Aguirre “has lost all credibility to hear this case” following his statements in the Senate hearing.
She also called on Aguirre to stop offering to put witnesses in Delos Santos’ killing under the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program.
“He has also lost the trust and confidence of the public that he can capably protect the witnesses,” Hontiveros said. “Placing the witnesses to Secretary Aguirre’s ‘care’ would be like delivering sheep into the lion’s den.”
The Millennials Against Dictators, a group of student leaders and law students called on Aguirre to keep his hands off Delos Santos’ case.
The group said they will file a petition at the DOJ on Tuesday urging Aguirre to inhibit himself from the case, adding that it supports proposals to let the Ombudsman investigate Delos Santos’ death instead.
“His various statements about the case has shown that he’s already made up his mind about the case,” the group said.
Aguirre said the accusations of bias hurled against him were made “by some apparently uninformed or ill-motivated persons.”
“As a father and a parent myself, I condemn the killing Kian de Santos,” he said. “I condemn the killing in the same way that I condemn the brutal killings, the rape and the dehumanization of infants and children, of grandmothers and grandfathers, of mothers and fathers, of sons and daughters by drug addicts.”
Delos Santos, an alleged drug runner, was killed by two gunshots to his head in an August 16 police anti-drugs operation in Caloocan City.
Read: 17-year-old student gunned down by cops in anti-drug operations
He was laid to rest on Aug. 26.
Read: Hundreds of supporters call for justice as Kian is laid to rest
Meanwhile, Public Attorney’s Office chief Atty. Persida Acosta earlier said the three policemen linked to Kian’s death could turn into state witnesses.
Police Officer (PO) 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz are facing raps of murder and violation of Republic Act no. 9745 or the “Anti-Torture Act of 2009,” along with their station commander Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo,
If found guilty, the policemen will face up to 40 years imprisonment for “torture resulting in the death” of the victim, according to the law.
Caloocan City Police Chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna and Northern Police District Chief Roberto Fajardo have also been administratively relieved to ensure an impartial investigation.
Hontiveros on Monday called Acosta’s strategy “premature,” as the Senate has yet to listen to the testimonies of the witnesses.
Kapag masyadong maagang pumasok sila sa ganyang strategy, posible talagang mabura o burahin ang anggulo ng conspiracy sa pagpatay kay Kian,” Hontiveros said.
[Translation: If they play that strategy too early, it is possible that the conspiracy angles in Kian’s slay may be erased.]
