On the same day Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte promised the parents of slain teenager Kian delos Santos that justice will be served, he also told police that if a person violently resists arrest “you are free to kill the idiots, that is my order to you.”
He made the statement in the Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila yesterday during a speech to commemorate National Heroes Day. The statement was directed to Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido who was recently assigned a post in Iloilo City after its mayor was said to have links to the drug trade.
Later that day, Duterte met with Saldy and Lorenza delos Santos, Kian’s parents. The couple was thankful for the president’s efforts and said that they place their full trust on Duterte. “We know that President Duterte is our president so we wholeheartedly trust that he will be able to help resolve the case,” Lorenza said in an interview.
Kian was shot and killed by two police officers earlier this month. CCTV footage shows that the officers were in full control of the situation and that Kian was not resisting arrest. Kian’s death sparked outrage among Filipinos who are against Duterte’s war on drugs.
Last Monday, people gathered in different parts of the Manila metro area to honor Kian’s life and put a stop to the drug war.
While Duterte has promised to punish the police who killed Kian if proven guilty, his latest message to the police shows that he has not changed his tune with regards to the issue.
Human rights groups said about 12,000 people have been killed by the war on drugs, a number the government disputes.
