Philippines probe minor's death in anti-drug op

Philippines authorities on Tuesday launched a probe to investigate the death of a 17-year-old minor during a police anti-narcotics operation last week.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is probing three police officers implicated in the shooting of Kian Loyd Delos Santos, reports Efe news.

He was shot dead the on the night of August 16 in the Manila suburb of Caloocan.

According to the official version, Santos was shot dead while trying to resist arrest and escape and a pistol and drugs were recovered from the body.

Local media reported that CCTV footage from the authorities showed Santos begging for his life while being carried by two men into an alley where his body was later found.

The report added that weapons of the three officers were undergoing ballistics tests.

Protesters took to the streets of Manila on Monday holding signs saying, "Justice for Kian", while calling for an end to extrajudicial killings and murders committed by vigilantes who are provided with immunity as part of the war on drugs.

Rodrigo Duterte had launched the controversial war on drugs on June 30, 2016, the day he assumed presidency.

The violent campaign, since then has claimed more than 7,000 lives, of them 3,451 were killed in 68,214 police operations, while 96,703 people were arrested, according to official data.

--IANS

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