Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa on Friday vowed to investigate the death of a 17-year-old suspect who was killed during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan, saying he will not tolerate abuse.
“Basta pag merong pang-aabuso hindi ko palalampasin ‘yan. I cannot comment on that kararating ko lang galing Ozamiz di ko alam ang particular case. Kung merong ganun pai-imbestigahan natin (If there was indeed abuse [of authority] I will not let it pass. I cannot comment on that, I just arrived from Ozamiz and I still do not know the details in that particular case. We will order an investigation if there really was [abuse]),” he told reporters.
“Ayoko ng abuso, gusto kong kaming mga pulis ruthless sa drug operations pero dapat wag abuso (I don’t like being abusive, what I want is for us policemen to be ruthless in our drug operations but not being abusive),” he added.
The young victim, identified as Kian Loyd delos Santos, a Grade 11 student, died after he was shot during a police operation in Brgy. 160 on Wednesday night.
Police claimed he resisted authorities and allegedly fired at them, prompting them to fire back.
But witnesses claimed that the police statement was not true.
Dela Rosa, however, said it was difficult to conclude without an investigation.
“Di ako papayag na ganyan ang gagawin ng pulis natin kung totoo yang report. Basta ang assurance, iimbestigahan natin (I will not allow our policemen to do that kind of thing if indeed the report was true. But my assurance is that I will order an investigation),” he said. JPV
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