Ateneo Law Student Councils Statement on the Spate of Extrajudicial Killings.

One innocent death is one too many.

How many more innocent lives should be taken before we demand accountability, truth,
and justice from our government? The death of Kian delos Santos was not an isolated case;
he was only one of the many unjustly deprived of their right to due process and right to live. His
death speaks volumes not only of how unsafe our streets have become, but also of how easily
our rights can be trampled by the people we expect to protect usour own police officers.

The ALS Student Council acknowledges that the war on drugs is a complex issue and
recognizes that no single institution can be solely blamed for such. Nevertheless, as students of
the law and future lawyers of this country, it is our duty to remind everyone that no one is
above the law and it is the obligation of every Filipino to respect the rights of their fellow
countrymen.

The Constitution recognizes the dignity of every human person and recognizes every
Filipinos right to due process. The Constitution provides several safeguards to protect our
right to due process. For one, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond
reasonable doubt. The accused is also entitled to a fair trial, including the opportunity to be
heard. Furthermore, everyone has the right to be secure in their persons and homes against
unreasonable searches and seizures.

The presumption of regularity in the performance of a public officials function is not a defense
for unscrupulous police officers. It is not an excuse for negligence of duty and is definitely not a
license to kill alleged drug suspects. Furthermore, the police officer, in the process of making an
arrest, is allowed to only employ reasonable force in case of resistance. The moment our
police officers ignore our rights to due process of law comes the beginning of
despotism.

With the spate of extrajudicial killings, we should ask ourselves: whatever happened to
upholding the rule of law and the Constitution as the highest law of the land? Now, more than
ever, we must use our passion for the law and our studies to open our eyes to these realities
and prevent our government and our police force to take for granted our rights.

The ALS Student Council urges the ALS Community to express their indignation over the
issue. In what has been a war on drugs that has clearly divided us as a nation, the Student
Council hopes that we all unite against the clear deprivation of our Constitutional rights to life,
liberty and due process of law. Let us not forget the stories of the people and their families who
are only casualties of these mishaps, and let us strive to do and bring justice in every way we
can, especially in these trying times.

One innocent death is one too many. TAMA NA.

#StopTheKillings #JusticeForKian