Former PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa says conviction of policemen involved in the slay of Kian delos Santos shows government does not tolerate police scalawags .
CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON
CONVICTION OF COPS IN KIAN SLAY
Former Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa says the conviction of the three Caloocan City policemen in the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos during a purported buy-bust operation shows the current administration does not tolerate scalawags in the police force.
Delos Santos was killed by the policemen when dela Rosa was the top official of the PNP.
“Kana nagpamatood nga ang inyong pulis, ang gobyerno wala ginatolerate ug ginacondone ang binuang nga binuhatan sa kapulisan,” said Dela Rosa.
(It only means that the government does not condone the bad behavior of the police.)
During the Senate inquiry into Kian’s death, Dela Rosa, while admitting that the operation was an “overkill,” also said Kian was “not as innocent as you think” in defending his men.
The police officers involved in Kian’s death were found guilty of murder by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 125 on Nov. 29.
PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz were each sentenced to reclusion perpetua without eligibility of parole.
The Supreme Court has defined reclusion perpetua as “imprisonment for at least thirty years after which the convict becomes eligible for pardon.”
The three officers were acquitted of planting evidence on Delos Santos.
“So buot pasabot nga ang justice system nato is well (not what the others believe). Kombikto gani,” said Dela Rosa.
(So this only means that our justice system is well.)
However, he said, the conviction of the three Caloocan City policemen should not be a reason for low morale.
Instead, this will boost the morale of the “good policemen” in the organization.
“Gamay ra man ang pulis nga nagbuhat og binuang. So ma high morale ang kadaghanan kay ang bugok sa PNP nakita,” said Dela Rosa.
(There are only few bad policemen. So the rest will have high morale because the scalawags in PNP are now identified.)
Dela Rosa was in Cebu City and Tuburan, northern Cebu, on Saturday for a quick visit.