Press Release
August 24, 2017

Opening statement of Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros on the Senate Committee hearing on the killing of Kian Loyd Delos Santos

Magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

When I visited the wake of Kian de los Santos on Saturday, August 19, one of the things that was brought to my attention was the threats that confronted the family of Kian, as well as the eyewitnesses to his killing. Urgent protection had to be extended -- not only to ensure that their testimony is insulated from those who will profit from their silence, but also because it was clear to me that while the courage to seek justice for Kian was real, so too was their fear. Sa tulong ni Bishop Ambo David ng Caloocan, I extended protective custody to three witnesses, two of whom were minors. Isang 16 at isang 13.

We are ready and eager to cooperate with anyone who seeks justice for Kian, and to do so, it was necessary for us to secure the services of a counsel with experience in children and the law, and ensure compliance with the Rule on Examination of Child Witnesses. Bagama't mahalaga ang mabilis na pagkilos upang bigyan ng katarungan si Kian, mahalaga na kilalanin din natin ang maselan na kalagayan ng mga batang testigo. Kagaya ni Kian, sila ay mga menor de edad. Hindi sila mga ordinaryong testigo na maaaring iparada lamang ng basta-basta. We need to secure the best witness care and other special measures to enable them to give evidence in the best way possible in terms of quality of their testimonies while reducing trauma and stress to them.

Thus, with the help of the IBP National Council of Legal Aid, and the Child Protection Unit of PGH, we clinched that yesterday and made the testimony of the witnesses available to the PAO, NBI, CHR and the Ombudsman. Unfortunately, PAO was not there.

Malaki po ang kalaban natin. Hindi lang po dalawa o tatlong tiwaling pulis, kundi ang isang malawakang polisiya na nagpapahintulot ng mga patayan sa ngalan ng tinatawag na War on Drugs. Kung nais nating bigyan ng katarungan si Kian, at kung nais natin na hindi na magkaroon ng dagdag na Kian, bigyan natin ng boses at sapat na kalinga ang mga naging saksi ng kanyang pagkamatay.

Sa akin pong paniniwala ay mahalaga ang testimonya ng mga saksi na nasa aking kustodiya at ito ay karapat-dapat ding madinig ng Komiteng ito. However, because of the minor status of two of the witnesses, I would like to beg the indulgence of my fellow senators and immediately move for executive session under Rule 47, Section 127 of the Rules of the Senate in order to hear the testimony of the witnesses who are minors, as well the testimony of the adult witness who still faces many security risks.

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