MALACAÑANG has assured the public that the three police officers found guilty of the murder of teenager Kian Delos Santos in Caloocan City last year will not be pardoned by President Duterte despite the Chief Executive’s repeated pronouncements to do such.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Caloocan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 125 Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. found PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz guilty of murdering Delos Santos on the evening of August 16, 2017.
In a press briefing, Panelo lauded the decision of the court sentencing the three police officers to reclusion perpetua. He also praised the speedy resolution of the case.
“It is a triumph of justice. It shows that this country has a robust judicial system,” he said Thursday.
“We would like to laud, by the way, this is a six-month trial, and this is a record in heinous crimes like the case of Kian. It took them only six months to finish the case. It means that the prosecution, as well as the defense, really did their homework, and finish the case on time,” he added.
The Palace official, however, allayed concerns that President Duterte would eventually pardon the three police officers.
According to Panelo, Duterte’s will not tolerate the act of murder, reiterating that the President will only help those men in uniform who have not violated the law.
“You must remember that this is a murder. There is intention to kill. The President will never tolerate that,” he said.
“So obviously, if the conviction is murder, which is intentional, then I don’t think the President will pardon,” he added. (Argyll Geducos)