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Francisco Santiago Jr.

was recently acquitted of illegal drug charges by the Manila


Regional Trial Court. This may appear to be a small, inconsequential case , but for the
fact that Santiago’s vindication may, in time, have a pivotal impact on the Duterte
administration’s war on drugs.
In its decision, the court upheld the motorized pedicab driver’s version of the grisly
events that transpired in the wee hours of the morning of Sept. 13, 2016. Malate police
had initially reported that Santiago and a certain George Huggins were shot dead
during a buy-bust operation.
But while crime laboratory operatives were marking the bloody scene for needed
evidence, Santiago, who was lying face down inside the yellow police line, slowly
stirred. He raised his arms and then pleaded to be allowed to surrender, surprising
everyone, including the police and media called to cover what had the cops had said
was a consummated drug deal and another case of suspects who fought back
(“nanlaban”).

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