Defense chief appeals for calm in wake of Kian shooting

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (PNA Photo)

MANILA — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana urged the public to remain calm and wait for the results of the investigation of the shooting of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos during an anti-drugs operation in Caloocan last week.

Lorenzana made the statement in the wake of the public outcry following Delos Santos’ death.

“We must allow the investigation into this incident to take its full and proper course,” he added in a statement late Tuesday.

The Defense chief also stressed that once allegations of foul play are proven, the perpetrators must  be brought to justice and be accountable for what they have done.

Lorenzana also assured the family that the implicated police officers, if found guilty of abuses and other lapses, will be punished to the fullest extend of the law as pledged by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Kian de los Santos,” the DND chief added.

And whether or not he was involved in the use or trafficking of illegal drugs, Lorenzana pointed out that the victim did not deserve to die in the manner that he did.

Earlier, the four officers implicated in the incident, namely PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz and their precinct commander, Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, were placed under restrictive custody in wake of the ongoing investigations.

The four were earlier ordered relieved over the incident and now detailed at the National Capital Region Police-Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit pending results of the investigation against them.

Initial reports are claimed that the victim was shot dead by law men after the former fired shots at officers conducting anti-narcotics operations in the area.

However, Delos Santos’ family belied these claims as they have seen CCTV footage allegedly showing lawmen dragging the victim before shooting him dead.