Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo
Malaca帽ang on Thursday allayed fears that President Rodrigo Duterte would eventually pardon the three convicted police officers in the killing of teenager Kian delos Santos last year, noting that the chief executive will not tolerate an act of murder.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo stressed that Duterte will only help those law enforcers who have not violated the law.
鈥淵ou must remember that this is a murder. There is intention to kill. The President will never tolerate that,鈥� Panelo said in a Palace briefing.
鈥淥bviously, if the conviction is murder, which is intentional, I don鈥檛 think the President will pardon,鈥� he added.
Duterte had publicly claimed that he would protect policemen who are charged for doing their duties in accordance with the law, adding that聽he will absolve law enforcers who would be penalized for his anti-drug war.
Delos Santos, whom initially claimed by the police to be part of the illegal drug trade, was killed during a police operation in Caloocan in August 2017.
His death drew widespread condemnation of Duterte鈥檚 war on illegal drugs, which has claimed over 5,000 lives since he took office in 2016, according to government data.
Panelo, who is also Duterte鈥檚 chief legal counsel, 聽also called the conviction a testament for the country鈥檚 robust and working justice system.
He then lauded the trial court, which resolved the case in only six months, for the 鈥渟wift administration of justice.鈥� /jpv
READ: Palace: Conviction in Kian slay shows 鈥榬obust鈥� PH justice system