The death of a 17-year old boy in the hands of police has sparked anger in the Philippines. Kian delos Santos was killed after an alleged shootout with police, but witnesses say the teenager was executed. More than 12,500 people, many small-time drug users and dealers, have been killed since Duterte took office in June 2016. Some Human Rights Organizations have expressed concern about these deaths. The bishop of Catholicism in the Philippines have advocate to stop this indiscriminate killing.

 

One Time Big Time, was how the Philippine National Police's most recent drug raids were dubbed. The results indeed were big time, hundreds arrested and more than 80 dead last week. After 32 turned up dead the first night, President Rodrigo Duterte said it was a good thing.

 

RODRIGO DUTERTE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT "If we can just kill 32 everyday then maybe we can reduce what ails this country."

 

Police say they kill only in self-defense, but the death of 17-year old Kian delos Santos has put that in question. Cops say Kian engaged in a shootout with them, but this security footage shows a boy believed to be Kian being dragged by police. Witnesses also say he was handed a gun, told to fire it and run. On Monday, autopsy revealed Kian died of three gunshot wounds to the head.

 

ZALDY DELOS SANTOS FATHER OF KIAN "He was so focused on his studies, how can they accuse him of being a drug addict? And us? We wouldn't be selling pens, crackers, and pencils if we were making a lot of money from drugs."

 

Many who believe Kian was a victim of extrajudicial killing have taken to the streets.

 

BARNABY LO MANILA "So this group of protesters behind me has come to the community where 17-year old Kian delos Santos grew up and unfortunately died. He died in the hands of police. His death and the spate of police killings in the last week have sparked outrage in the Philippines."

 

And while in the past Duterte has defended police killings in the course of his war on drugs, in Kian's case, he says there must be an investigation.

 

RODRIGO DUTERTE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT "Should the investigation point to the liabilities by one, two or all, there will be a prosecution, and they will have to go to jail."  

 

But what Kian's family, who once supported Duterte's war on drugs really wants, is for the bloodbath to end. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Manila.