SENATOR Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday asked the Senate to investigate the death of children and teens during police operations.

Hontiveros filed Senate Resolution 776 days after the killing of Johndy Maglinte,16, and his companion Antonio Dalit in an alleged shootout in Binan, Laguna.

Hontiveros said that the death of yet another minor during the war on drugs has created a “grim pattern” that needs to be broken.

“Is this a war on our children? These deaths are more than just ‘operational lapses’. This is a total and disgusting disregard for the life of children. This is not the first time a minor was killed because of sloppy police operations. This pattern of unimaginable state cruelty must stop immediately,” the senator said.

The teen’s family claimed that Maglinte was handcuffed and lying face down when he was shot by police officers.

The Philippine National Police however said that Maglinte and Dalit resisted arrest and exchanged gunfire with lawmen.

“Dapat, walang batang namamatay sa kamay ng mga pulis. Kung sino pa ‘yung inaakala nating maglilingkod at mag-aalaga sa ating mga mamamayan, sila pala yata ang walang awa at puso para sa ating mga anak. Bilang nanay ng apat na anak at biyuda ng isang pulis, I will strongly pursue this investigation at the Senate. It is high time we change the way our police behave during anti-illegal drugs operations,” Hontiveros said.

The senator recognized the swift action of PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar who ordered an investigation.

“This is the kind of response we need to start real cultural change inside the PNP. I believe Eleazar is up to the challenge of transforming existing police protocols to reduce misconduct among their ranks. As an institution, it should be unacceptable that minors are dying by the hands of police,” she said.