Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling affirming the conviction of the police officers responsible for the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, calling the decision a clear affirmation of truth and accountability.

In a statement, Hontiveros said the High Court’s ruling categorically rejected claims that there was a shootout and confirmed that Kian was unarmed and did not resist when he was killed during an anti-drug operation in August 2017.

“Malinaw ang hatol ng Korte Suprema: Pinatay nang walang kalaban-laban si Kian delos Santos. Walang engkwentro at hindi siya nanlaban. Hindi totoo ang mga palusot ng tatlong pulis na pumatay sa kanya (The ruling of the Supreme Court is clear: Kian delos Santos was killed while defenseless. There was no shootout, and he did not fight back. The excuses of the three police officers who killed him are not true),” the senator said.

Quoting the Court, Hontiveros stressed that the decision underscored that the killing of defenseless civilians, especially minors, can never be considered part of legitimate police duty.

She described the ruling as welcome news for the Delos Santos family, expressing hope that it would help them heal and move forward after years of seeking justice.

“Masayang balita ang desisyon na ito para sa pamilya at mga naulila ni Kian Delos Santos. Sana ay makatulong ito sa kanilang paghilom at pagbangon (This decision is welcome news for the family and loved ones of Kian delos Santos. May it help them in their healing and recovery),” she said.

Hontiveros also said the decision was an encouraging development for human rights advocates, lawyers, civic groups, and other families affected by deaths linked to the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Now that the Supreme Court has definitively ruled Kian’s killing as murder, the senator said accountability should extend beyond the convicted officers.

She called for scrutiny of officials who allegedly attempted to cover up the incident and spread false claims about Kian and his family to justify his death.

“Marami pa ang dapat managot ukol sa mga patayan at pang-aabuso na konektado sa tokhang,” Hontiveros said, adding that justice remains incomplete if those who ordered or enabled such acts are not held responsible. She described the killings as “systematic” and said accountability must reach higher levels of authority.

The senator noted that thousands of families have suffered losses similar to that of the Delos Santos family and expressed hope that they, too, would eventually find justice and peace.

“There are thousands more who have suffered so much like the Delos Santos family. Sana lahat sila, balang araw, ay makamit ang hustisya at kapayapaan na kanilang hinahanap,” Hontiveros said.