Akbayan Calls for Broader Accountability Following Supreme Court Upholding of Kian delos Santos' Killers' Convictions

The Akbayan party-list has appealed to the government to intensify efforts to hold perpetrators accountable in the ongoing drug war crackdown, following a Supreme Court decision affirming the murder convictions of three police officers implicated in the 2017 killing of teenager Kian delos Santos.

Welcoming the ruling as a significant, albeit rare, measure against impunity, Akbayan president Rafaela David emphasized that this legal milestone must serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive reform of the "Tokhang" campaign rather than remain an isolated instance of justice.

"Justice is not truly served unless those who designed, financed, and authorized the extrajudicial killings—including high-ranking officials—face accountability alongside the operatives responsible for carrying out the violence," David stated.

In light of this, Akbayan is advocating for the prompt enactment of the Truth and Reparations Commission Bill. The proposed legislation aims to thoroughly investigate the broader context of the drug war and provide judicial recognition and reparations to the countless families affected by state-sponsored violence.

The Supreme Court's Second Division recently upheld the conviction and 40-year imprisonment sentences of police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz. The court ruled that the fatal shooting of Delos Santos was a deliberate execution rather than a legitimate police operation.

Forensic analysis presented during the trial revealed that Delos Santos was shot five times while he was defenseless and kneeling, directly contradicting police claims that the teenager engaged in a shootout with authorities.