Noynoy Aquino called for an investigation of the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos during a police operation

Former President Noynoy Aquino called for an investigation of the killing of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos during a police operation.

Aquino described the incident as “horrifying” and a clear case of murder, which is why it needs to be investigated, he said, during the 34th death anniversary of his father, former Senator Ninoy Aquino on Monday.

“Nakakagimbal… Kailangan ng imbestigasyong kaukulan para naman hindi haka-haka mangyari… Dito maliwanang, may murder, may homicide,” he said.

He added the investigation should be conducted swiftly.

“Ang importante dun sa imbestigasyon, wag naman umabot ng pagkatagal tagal. Yung matagal na imbestigasyon, imbis na nagpapalinaw, nagpapalabo,” he said.

A series of anti-drug operations on August 15 and 16 have led to the killing of 82 alleged drug suspects, and the arrest of hundreds of others from Bulacan and Metro Manila in one of the war on drug’s bloodiest weeks yet.

Aquino said he lacked evidence to prove that the killings related to the drug war are state-sanctioned under his successor, President Rodrigo Duterte. But he said the state has an obligation to protect the people.

He stated the importance of due process in handling alleged suspects, which he said they did in his time.

“Hindi naming hinabol lang yung mahuli, hinabol rin namin pagkahuli, paano macoconvict… Noong panahon namin, importante yung proseso. Importante na walang babalik sa amin na sasabihin kami ang mismong lumalabag ng batas,” he said.

[Translation; We weren’t just after arrests, we were also after their conviction… During our time, process was important. It was important that no one tells us we violated the law.]

Former President Aquino faces charges of usurpation of authority before the Ombudsman in relation to his role in the Mamasapano operations that led to the deaths in January 2015 of 44 Special Action Forces troops of the Philippine National Police at the hands of Muslim insurgents.

Kian was killed on August 16 during an operation in Caloocan City, after police said he fired his gun at them. His family’s legal counsel, Public Affairs Office Chief Persida Acosta said he sustained three fatal wounds that indicate Kian was murdered by the police. His family is set to file murder charges against the Caloocan City policemen involved in the operation.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Internal Affairs Service of the Philippine National Police, Caloocan City police, and National Bureau of Investigation are conducting investigations into the incident. The Senate begins its own probe on Thursday.

President Duterte on Monday said if police are found liable for the killing of 17-year-old alleged drug runner Kian Delos Santos, they will go to jail.

The government reported 3,451 drug suspects were killed in its anti-drug campaign from July 1 to July 26, 2017, but authorities said over 90,000 suspects have surrendered or were arrested.