Press Release
November 29, 2018

A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS

*Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on the guilty verdict given to the police officers who killed Kian Loyd Delos Santos

Isa itong mahalagang tagumpay para sa katarungan at sa lahat ng lumalaban para tapusin na ang kultura ng patayan sa ating bayan. This is a light in the darkness. Despite the gruesome climate of killing and impunity in the country, this verdict sends the message that there is hope and justice. And we will fight for more light and truth until the darkenss cannot overcome them.

Ito rin ay matibay na ebidensiya na nagtuturo sa realidad ng extrajudicial killings (EJKs) sa ilalim ng gobyerno ni Pangulong Duterte. The court's decision proves that EJKs under President Duterte are real, committed no less by rogue elements in the police force.

Ngunit hindi dapat huminto ang ating pag-uusig sa iilang tiwaling pulis. Kailangang panagutin natin ang lahat ng sangkot sa patayang ito, kasama na ang lahat ng matataas na opisyales sa ating kapulisan at pamahalaan na nagbigay ng utos at lakas loob para sa mga abusadong pulis na takutin ang ating mga komunidad at dahasin at paslangin ang ating mga kababayan.

Tunay na may polisiya ng pagpatay sa ilalim ni Pangulong Duterte. Ang libong mga namatay ay hindi bunga ng aksidente. May intensyon, may nagdikta, may sistema at utos sa likod ng mga patayan. How could the number of dead reach such catastrophic levels if these killings did not have a sinister principle and policy behind them?

The President cannot wash his hands of these killings any longer, and his apologists cannot play deaf, dumb and blind in the President's defense. Through his words and endless provocation, President Duterte set into motion the killing of thousands. He has smeared the image of the police force. He incited this culture of killing and impunity. He can no longer deny responsibility for inflicting death and violence while he has clearly and repeatedly encouraged them.

Nanawagan ako sa iba pa nating mga kababayan na may mga mahal sa buhay na naging biktima ng EJKs na lumantad at magkaroon ng sapat na lakas ng loob para bigyang katarungan ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Mabagal at masalimuot man ang takbo ng hustisya sa ting bayan, sa ating pagtutulungan, ay mapagtatagumayan natin ito.

Lastly, I call on the honest men and women of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to help us stop the climate of killing in the country. I know many of you are honorable and patriotic. I know many of you have worked hard to professionalize the police force. And I know many of you are hurting from the actions of a few corrupt and abusive within your ranks. Let us stop this madness. Let Kian be the last name we will see in the list of EJKs under the Duterte administration.

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