Netizens are crying foul over the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, a Grade 11 student who was shot during an anti-drug operation by police officers last week.
Among those who have expressed their grief, outrage and dismay on social media are local celebrities Bianca Gonzalez, Agot Isidro, Jim Paredes, Gabe Mercado and Mariel de Leon.
On August 18, former Apo Hiking Society member and known Duterte government critic Jim Paredes expressed his outrage via Twitter saying, “I am so angry. I watched the father narrate everything. His pain is beyond words.”
I am so angry. I watched the father narrate everything. His pain is beyond words. https://t.co/jtGF3puDUw
— Jim (@Jimparedes) August 18, 2017
In between sharing posts about extrajudicial-killings, Paredes said in a succedding tweet, “I am VERY angry. They killed this young boy. If you are, EXPRESS IT. We cannot allow our country to be ruled by evil. #JusticeForKian”
I am VERY angry. They killed this young boy. If you are, EXPRESS IT. We cannot allow our country to be ruled by evil. #JusticeForKian
— Jim (@Jimparedes) August 18, 2017
Host and new mom Bianca Gonzalez showed her empathy as a parent by tweeting, “Yung puso ko nadudurog kasama ng magulang ni Kian. Ganito nalang ba lagi? Yung napapatay, nagiging statistic nalang? #JusticeForKian.”
Yung puso ko nadudurog kasama ng magulang ni Kian. Ganito nalang ba lagi? Yung napapatay, nagiging statistic nalang? #JusticeForKian
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) August 18, 2017
In a tweet on August 19, actress Agot Isidro shared an image with a quote by writer Elie Wiesel written on it. “To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time,” it said. The caption for the image read, “#JusticeForKian and for many lives lost. #StopTheKillings #NeverForget.”
#JusticeForKian and for many lives lost. #StopTheKillings #NeverForget pic.twitter.com/PU6zRgSqKz
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) August 19, 2017
Isidro was spotted attending the protest rally seeking justice for the slain teenager, which was held Monday at the People Power Monument, coinciding with the death anniversary of former senator Ninoy Aquino.
On August 20, comedian and host Gabe Mercado shared a simple infographic showcasing the declarations of the police, a witness, and Kian’s family, as well as what supposed CCTV footage of Kian and the policemen showed. Along with the image, Mercado tweeted, “Let your voices be heard. Hindi tama ang ginagawa ng gobyerno at pulis natin. #manlaban.”
Without making a specific reference to Kian delos Santos’ death, Bb. Pilipinas-International 2017 and celebrity offspring Mariel de Leon tweeted two words that said it all on August 18.
Bloody Philippines
— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) August 18, 2017
It was followed by another tweet on the same day, and this time, her point was more specific.
It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that people are okay with murder because their leader says it is okay.
— Mariel de Leon (@mariaangelicadl) August 18, 2017
Mariel then shared an article on last week’s number of casualties in the President’s war on drugs. This was succeeded by yet another tweet saying, “Hate inspires hate. Violence inspires violence. ‘Until we stop harming others, we are all still savages.’” The latter part is a quote by Thomas Jefferson.
Although not actively expressing his views on social media, Jaime Fabregas was among those who attended yesterday’s protest rally.
In an interview with the media, the veteran actor and “Ang Probinsiyano” star said, “Well I think it’s time na to stop, you know, standing lang around, not saying anything. I think itong pagpatay kay Kian has brought everything to the fore already. Wala nang control si Duterte sa nangyayayari. Siya na ang kino-control ng mga tao niya.”
Fabregas explicitly said that there is a need to end the government’s drug war.
“Alam mo, because of this all-out war of his, it’s going out of control and it has to be stopped. It really has to be stopped,” he said.