Philippines War on Drugs: Cops convicted for murder of 17-year-old boy

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02:23

A local court has sentenced three Filipino police officers to life imprisonment for the murder of a 17-year-old boy last year. The conviction is a first for cops waging President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. CGTN's Barnaby Lo has the details.

Just over a year ago, they were officers of the law, now they've become convicted criminals. On Thursday, a local court sentenced three members of the Philippine National Police to life for the murder of 17-year old Kian delos Santos.

BARNABY LO MANILA "It took only six months to hear the case against cops who killed Kian delos Santos. That's rare in the Philippines' notoriously slow justice system. It is also the first time police fighting President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs have been convicted for killing a drug suspect."

Kian's death in August last year sparked protests after security footage of cops dragging a boy believed to be Kian emerged, and autopsy revealed the teenager dying of three gunshot wounds to the head.

PERSIDA ACOSTA CHIEF OF PUBLIC ATTORNEY'S OFFICE "100 meters from the house of Kian? At the dead end? Nowhere to run? By three police officers running after him and bringing him, accosting him? Any person, even not a lawyer, can conclude that there's something wrong here."

Despite repeatedly pledging to protect police in the front lines of his war on drugs, in Kian's case, Duterte had promised justice. To Kian's family and for the government, it is a promise fulfilled.

SALVADOR PANELO PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON "This is a walking testament that there is, in this country as I've said, a robust judicial system, a working judicial system. Certainly it is a deterrent of any commission of any crime involving men in uniform."

That is the hope as killings continue unabated in the country. And for justice served to one Kian, thousands more await the same justice for the untimely deaths of their loved ones. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Manila.