Aguirre should keep hands off the Kian case—Hontiveros

Senator Risa Hotiveros
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II should keep his hands off the investigation into the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos after displaying one-sided remarks and personal bias concerning the case, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.

“Nananawagan po ako kay Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre na pormal na mag-inhibit sa kanilang sarili sa pag-imbestiga sa pagpatay sa 11th grader na si Kian delos Santos,” Hontiveros said in a televised press conference.

(I am calling on Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to formally inhibit himself from their investigation into the killing of 11th grader Kian delos Santos.)

Hontiveros said Aguirre has lost all his credibility following his “one-sided” statements on Thursday during the Senate investigation against the policemen involved in the death of delos Santos.

READ: PAO lawyers file murder, torture raps vs 3 cops in Kian death

Aguirre earlier asked the difference between a minor killed by a drug addict and a minor killed by the police.

“Noong patayin ‘yung limang tao sa Bulacan may na-rape, may tatlong minors, bakit ni-isa walang dumalaw? (When five people were killed in Bulacan, one was raped, and three were minors, why did no one sympathize with them?) Even Human Rights commissioner went to the wake of Kian yesterday,” Aguirre said.

READ: Aguirre: Minors killed by addicts or by cops — what’s the difference?

Hontiveros also urged the secretary to stop insisting that the witnesses in delos Santos’ killing be placed under the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Witness Protection Program.

“Kung ilalagay pa sa kalinga ni Secretary Aguirre ang mga saksi, eh di para na rin nating hinatid ang mga tupa sa lion’s den (If we will bring the witnesses under the care of Secretary Aguirre, then it’s like leading the sheep into the lion’s den),” Hontiveros said.

At least three witnesses surfaced and sought protection from Hontiveros because of threats to their lives. The two minors have yet to secure written consent from their parents based overseas before being allowed to talk to senators investigating the student’s death. JPV