MANILA - The resolution of the murder of teen Kian Loyd Delos Santos should lead to in-depth investigations of other killings related to the drug war, Vice President Leni Robredo said Thursday.

Robredo said the murder conviction of three policemen behind the slay proves that there are problems hounding the government's narcotics crackdown.

"Tagumpay ng bayan ang hatol na murder sa mga pulis na pumatay kay Kian delos Santos, ngunit nais nating ulitin ang matagal na nating itinatanong: Ilan ba sa libo-libong pinatay sa “drug war” ang walang sala tulad ni Kian?" Robredo said in a statement.

(The murder conviction of three policemen who killed Kian Delos Santos is a victory for the nation, but we want to reiterate the question: How many of those killed in the drug war are innocent like Kian?)

"Dapat itong maging simula ng isang malalim na imbestigasyon, dahil ito ay nagpapatunay na may malaking problemang kailangan ayusin sa kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra sa droga," she added.

(This should be the start of an in-depth investigation because this proves that there is a bigger problem in the drug war that needs to be addressed.)

Police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz were found guilty of murdering Delos Santos in a police operation in August 2017 and were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or 20 to 40 years in prison.

• 3 cops found guilty of murder over Kian Delos Santos slay

The 17-year-old was shot dead during an anti-illegal drug sweep in an impoverished neighborhood in Caloocan, a city which has seen a number of drug-related killings since President Rodrigo Duterte took office.

Witnesses claimed they saw some policemen hand Delos Santos a gun, and told the teenager to run before firing shots at him.

Autopsy results showed that Delos Santos sustained fatal gunshot wounds to the head while he was already on the ground kneeling and turning away from police.

Delos Santos' family also denied allegations that the teen was involved in illegal drugs.

• Palace lauds conviction of cops in Kian's slay

The teen's death sparked public outrage and prompted the President to shift the leadership of his anti-drug drive from the police to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

"Hindi nararapat na tanggapin na lamang natin na lahat ng pinapatay ay 'nanlaban.' Kailangang sundin ang itinatakda ng Konstitusyon at mga batas sa pagpapatupad ng 'war on drugs' upang maprotektahan ang taumbayan laban sa pang-aabuso," Robredo said.

(We should not accept the narrative that all those killed [in anti-drug raids] had resisted arrest. We have to follow the Constitution and the laws covering the implementation of the 'war on drugs' to protect the people from abuse.)

Police have said more than 4,000 drug suspects have died in anti-drug operations for putting up violent resistance. Rights groups, however, say the number of those slain, including in vigilante attacks, may be more than 10,000.

• Drug war death toll breaches 4,000 mark: PNP
• Nanlaban lahat? Cayetano defends drug war deaths