SENATOR Risa Hontiveros is poised to file a resolution seeking a Senate investigation, in aid of legislation, of killings during police operations, which she said have snuffed out the lives of children and teenagers.

The move came as Johndy Maglinte, 16, was allegedly killed by police officers in an operation in Laguna.

Maglinte’s family claimed that the boy was shot while handcuffed and lying face down.

“Johndy, at 16, is still a child according to our laws. Ano’ng laban ng isang bata sa isang armadong institusyon? Bakit ba ang lalakas ng loob ng ilan sa mga pulis na mang-api at kumitil ng mga kabataang walang kalaban-laban? This is a serious human rights violation that needs to be investigated,” Hontiveros said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality believes that Maglinte’s death is no longer an isolated case because many others have died during police operations.

In 2018, teenagers Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz, and Reynaldo de Guzman were killed during a so-called “One Time, Big Time” operation of the Caloocan City police.

“Maglinte’s death should never be considered an isolated case. These operations have been constantly posing a real danger to our youth: mula kay Kian delos Santos at sa kanyang mga kasamahan noong 2018, hanggang Kay Johndy ngayong 2021, at sa libu-libo pang mga kabataang pumanaw dahil sa kalabisan ng ating pulisya,” Hontiveros said.

“This relentless, unabated slaughter of our people must stop. I will do all I can to make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice,” she added.