Police chief ‘Bato’ vows to probe teen’s death, but insists drug war’s high death toll ‘normal’

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Friday vowed to investigate the death of a 17-year-old boy during a Caloocan City anti-drug operation even as he asserted that the high number of deaths in overnight anti-drug raids was “normal.”

“Let’s look at it, there should be an investigation. We can’t let this slip. Just think, you’re going to kill a child? What kind of policemen are you? Are you even a policeman if you’re like that? If you kill a 17-year-old, are you that heartless?” said Dela Rosa in Filipino.

He adds, “If that report is true, I cannot allow policemen to be merciless.I am giving you the assurance, we will investigate.”

At the same time, Dela Rosa said there was nothing unusual about the high number of deaths in anti-drug operations.

“It’s normal that there’s a lot (of deaths). Your policemen are doing their job. They do not sleep, they work, so they operate,” he said.

This week, overnight anti-drug operations in Bulacan left 32 dead, while 25 were killed in Manila, and 17 were killed in Caloocan as police carried out the administration’s relentless anti-drug campaign.

Among those slain in the Caloocan operation was Grade 11 student Kian Loyd Delos Santos, who police alleged fired at pursuing officers.

Surveillance footage which caught the incident, however, suggested that the minor had already surrendered to police before he was shot dead.

Several senators have called for a legislative inquiry into his death.

Malacañang meanwhile called the incident “isolated” and said it would not tolerate police abuse.

Dela Rosa apologized to the families of suspects who died in the war against illegal drugs.

“To the families who are speaking out, I know death is really painful for a family, we understand your feelings. We are very sorry for what had happened. I’d rather my policemen are alive instead of dead. That’s my opinion,” he explained.

He continues, “If my policemen die, I’m at a disadvantage, and their families will also have bad feelings towards us. That’s normal, I understand how angry you are towards us.”

The top cop advised his men not to listen to critics and to remain focused on their job.

“Whatever they say about impunity: the drug lord who’s acting like a king, they will not yell ‘impunity’. Now, the policemen are doing their job, they’ll yell ‘impunity’. We’re going nowhere with this,” Dela Rosa said.

“If you work, you’re useless. If you don’t work, you’re still useless, it’s still impunity. Where are they going? So don’t listen to them.”

INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION
The PNP Internal Affairs Service (IAS) has begun an investigation into the “One-time Big Time” police operations this week.

Lawyer Michael Darwin Bayotas, acting chief of the PNP-IAS Intelligence and Investigation Division, called on witnesses to come forward and give their testimonies.

“We encourage the family to cooperate with the investigation to be the potential witness for us to investigate thoroughly the case, at the same time mag-case build up for the proper prosecution and best position for summary hearing,” he said.

Story: ABS-CBN News; English translation added