The Supreme Court of the Philippines has delivered a landmark ruling, upholding the murder convictions of three police officers involved in the death of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos. This decision, announced on December 29, 2025, marks a rare instance of legal accountability within the nation's controversial anti-drug campaign.
A Long-Awaited Measure of Justice
Rafaela David, president of the Akbayan party, welcomed the high court's affirmation, describing it as a long-awaited measure of justice for Kian and a signal of hope. The teenager was killed during an anti-drug operation in 2017, a case that became a powerful symbol of the human cost of the drug war under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
This is a good day for justice — not only for Kian but for all the victims of the war on drugs, David stated. She highlighted the enduring pain of families who have lost loved ones with little hope for accountability, calling the ruling an important step forward in the broader fight for justice.
The Call for Broader Accountability
While acknowledging the decision as a crucial milestone, David emphasized that accountability must not end with this single case. She called for justice to continue flowing for Kian and all other victims of extrajudicial killings.
Hindi dapat matigil dito, she asserted, stressing in Filipino that all those involved in tokhang—from the trigger-pullers to those who engineered and funded the killings—must be apprehended and convicted.
Legislative Action and the Path Forward
The Akbayan leader urged legislators, civil society, and the Filipino public to use the Supreme Court ruling as renewed motivation to break the cycles of violence and impunity. A central part of this call is the urgent enactment of the proposed Truth and Reparations Commission Bill.
David argued that this decision should strengthen the demand for the bill's passage. Such a commission would have the mandate to investigate not just Kian delos Santos's case, but to expose the truth about the entire drug war and establish mechanisms to prevent other families from suffering similar tragic losses.
The Supreme Court's firm stance in this high-profile case is seen by advocates as a pivotal moment, potentially setting a precedent for holding state actors accountable and offering a measure of solace to thousands of grieving families across the Philippines.
