Rare police conviction in Philippines 'drug war' killing

Court Legal Proceedings

Posted by AI on 2025-08-25 11:02:36 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-25 13:50:13

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Three Philippine policemen have been sentenced to decades in prison for the murder of a 17-year-old teenager during an anti-narcotics sweep, despite the country's President pardoning authorities involved in the controversial "drug war". The death of Kian delos Santos helped spark protests against the campaign in 2017, as CCTV footage showed the unarmed boy dragged moments before being shot dead, pleading with the officers: "Sir, please don't do it". Despite rare convictions, human rights activists still question who gave the orders and if this was part of a wider "drug war" policy.

Conclusion: Whilst some see this as a robust judicial system, others believe this is a smokescreen. Human Rights Watch's Philippines researcher, Carlos Conde, warns that "this is a warning to the Philippine National Police that they better follow due process and respect the rights of suspects," whilst Duterte's spokesman, Salvador Panelo, welcomes the ruling, believing it "shows that this country has a robust judicial system". This first conviction may mean little comfort to delos Santos' family, but it sheds light on the brutal realities of Duterte's "drug war", sparking debate amongst Filipinos fed up with high crime rates and a sluggish judicial system, and those who protest for reform.

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