The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday hailed the recent conviction of four police officers charged in the killing of a father and son during the height of the Duterte administration’s anti-illegal drugs operations in 2016.
In a statement, the DOJ said this development showed that the Philippine judicial system is functioning to safeguard human rights in the country. It also served as a reminder to abusive police officers that no one is above the law.
“This conviction is a milestone in our criminal justice system, a testament of the government’s unwavering efforts to safeguard human rights in the pursuit of justice and a clear proof of a functioning justice system,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
Remulla issued the statement after the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 121 handed down its guilty verdict against Police Master Sgt. Virgilio Servantes and Police Corporals Arnel De Guzman, Johnston Alacre and Argemio Saguros, Jr. for homicide.
The DOJ chief commended the state prosecutors for successfully securing the conviction in this case, which he said could be considered a victory against alleged “irregularities” in the past administration’s war on drugs.
The RTC found the four accused police guilty of homicide for the deaths of Luis Bonficaio and his son Gabriel. They were sentenced to serve up to 10 years imprisonment, and ordered to jointly pay the victims’ heirs a total of P400,000 for actual, civil indemnity, moral, and temperate damages.
Court records showed that the Caloocan policemen stormed the house of Bonifacio as part of the government’s “tokhang” operations on September 15, 2016.
His wife, Mary Ann Domingo, said her husband went down on his knees and pleaded while the police officers were pointing guns at him. She also said that she and her other children were dragged outside the house and later led into a van where they heard gunshots coming from their house.
Domingo also said that a witness told her that her son Gabriel was dragged into the streets while police officers were shouting “nanlalaban” (he is resisting)” before being shot.
The widow said her husband died on the spot while their son died in the hospital.
A murder case was eventually filed against the involved police officers. But after four years, the Office of the Ombudsman downgraded the charge to homicide.
The anti-graft body’s ruling reached the Supreme Court, which eventually affirmed the Ombudsman’s findings, prompting the trial to push through before the local court.