Leni wants independent probe for Kian

Vice President Leni Robredo. AP FILE PHOTO

Vice President Leni Robredo has called for an “independent investigation” into the killing of 17-year old Kian Loyd delos Santos by Caloocan City policemen as caught on camera.

An independent investigation would give the family of the slain Grade 11 student some semblance of confidence and closure, Robredo said in her Sunday radio program, “BISErbisyong Leni,” aired on RMN-dzXL 558 kHz.

“’Yung atin lang ninanais, sana magkaroon naman ng independent na imbestigasyon, kasi lalong—alam mo iyon? Kapag hindi kampante iyong magulang sa klase ng imbestigasyon, hindi nabibigyan ng parang closure iyong kaso, at baka patuloy na nangyayari iyong ganitong nangyari kay Kian (What we only want is for an independent investigation, because—you know? If the parents are not confident with the kind of investigation conducted, it’s as if the case is not given closure, and what happened to Kian is still happening),” she said.

Robredo issued the call a few hours after visiting the teenager’s wake at Barangay 160, Caloocan City on Sunday morning, heading straight from Naga City.

According to an Office of the Vice-President statement, she was joined by human rights lawyer Jose Manuel Diokno, national chairman of the Free Legal Assistance Group, when she condoled with the teen’s parents, sari-sari store owner Zaldy and Saudi Arabia worker Lorenzana. Robredo also promised financial assistance to the Delos Santos family.

Kian’s father took Robredo to the alley where the barangay’s closed-circuit television footage showed the teen being dragged by policemen to the spot where he was killed.

In her radio program, Robredo again called on the public to express outrage at the killings that have marked the Duterte administration’s war on drugs. She also urged the government to rethink its approach after having cost lives.

“Sang-ayon naman tayo na malaki talaga iyong suliranin sa ilegal na droga, pero baka iyong pamamaraan, mayroong mas mabuti, na hindi iyong karapatang pantao na iyong nakasalalay, iyong mga inosente nabibiktima (I agree we have a huge problem with illegal drugs, but maybe, there are better ways that would not violate human rights and victimize the innocent),” Robredo said.

“Nakakalungkot ito. Ngayon, may mukha ito, itong si Kian. Parang sumasagi sa isip natin, ilan na ba iyong Kian na dumaan? Ilan pa ba iyong Kian na mangyayari? (This is saddening. Now, there is a face, that of Kian’s. It crosses our mind, how many Kians have occurred? How many Kians would have to happen?)” she added.  JE