Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
A day after Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said the death of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos was “blown out of proportion,” Malacañang said the minor’s killing during a drug operation was a “serious issue.”
Aguirre, during the House hearing Wednesday on the proposed 2018 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ), downplayed the killing of Delos Santos and said it was being “blown out of proportion” by the media.
Asked to comment on his statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella distanced himself from Aguirre’s remarks, saying it was the “opinion” of Aguirre.
“Let’s put it this way. Like we have said, there is depth and seriousness regarding the matter. We may not — that is the — that is the opinion of Secretary Aguirre,” Abella said.
Despite Aguirre’s downplay of the teenager’s killing, Abella said Malacañang was taking the issue seriously.
READ: Aguirre gets flak in House for downplaying killing of Kian
“But from the Palace’s point of view, this is a serious matter. And we — we have given it due — the kind of due attention. And… But, on the other hand, it’s also wise to make sure that everything is continually in perspective,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said the police operation that killed Delos Santos was not in the performance of their duty.
“I’m not justifying ‘yung sa Caloocan [incident]. That is really bad. Hindi naman in the performance of duty ‘yon,” Duterte said.
The President on Monday night said policemen involved in the killing of Delos Santos would rot in jail if proven guilty.
“I agree that there should be an investigation. Should the investigation point to liabilities, my warning to all is there will be a prosecution and they have to go to jail. That I can assure you. There will be no luto-luto (whitewash),” he told reporters. JE