Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Sunday her office took custody of witnesses to the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos during an alleged drug raid by Caloocan City policemen last week.
“My office took custody of the witnesses and began ensuring their safety. Another institution is also helping,” Hontiveros said in a statement.
The Akbayan senator said the protection provided to the family will also be given to key witnesses who will help in Delos Santos’ case.
“The protection provided to the family will be extended to the key witnesses who will help in bringing to justice the perpetrators of the extrajudicial killing of Kian Lloyd delos Santos,” she said.
“Lalaban ang mga inaapi (The oppressed will fight),” Hontiveros added.
Several senators and groups have earlier expressed condemnation over the killing of the grade 11 student.
READ: Senators pan killing of high school student in Caloocan anti-drug ops
Contrary to policemen’s claims that Delos Santos “resisted” arrest, several witnesses and a closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showed that he was mauled by policemen, given a gun and told to run before he was shot dead.