Kian’s parents seek indictment of 16 Caloocan cops

FILE: The parents of Kian Delos Santos sought the indictment of the 12 policemen, who were added in the criminal complaints in the killing of their son during an anti-narcotics operation in Caloocan City on August 16. (Photo: Kian Loyd/Facebook)

MANILA — The parents of Kian Delos Santos sought the indictment of the 12 policemen, who were added in the criminal complaints in the killing of their son during an anti-narcotics operation in Caloocan City on August 16.

During the preliminary investigation hearing, Saldy and Lorenza Delos Santos asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to indict the additional respondents in court.

The complainants initially named as respondents were former Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7 commander, Chief Inspector Ameor Cerillo; PO3 Arnel Oares; PO1 Jerwin Cruz; and PO1 Jeremias Pereda.

Later on, 12 more policemen were added as respondents, namely, PO2 Arnel Canezares; PO2 Fernan Cano; PO2 Diony Corpuz; PO1 Silverio Garcia Jr.; PO1 J-Rossillini Lorenzo; PO1 Christian Joy Aguilar; PO1 Myrldon Yagi; PO1 Ronald Herrera; PO1 Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr.; PO1 Ceferino Paculan; PO1 Erwin Romeroso; and PO1 Ferdinand Claro.

The charges are for murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC); violation of domicile under Article 128 of the RPC; torturing a minor resulting to death in violation of Republic Act 9745, also known as the Anti-Torture Law; and planting of evidence under Section 29 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. These were filed by Kian’s parents through the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

In the reply of complainants submitted before the DoJ on Wednesday, Saldy and Lorenza, reminded the panel of prosecutors handling the case that all of the 16 policemen have been investigated by the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Serice (PNP-IAS) over the conduct of the operation under the nationwide One Time Big Time (OTBT) operation which resulted in the death of the victim.

“However, it is worthy to note that the Philippine National Police (PNP), through its Internal Affairs Services (IAS) in its conduct of a motu-propio investigation of the incident against all the sixteen (16) PNP Operatives of Caloocan Police Community Precinct No. 7, found all of the herein respondents liable for the death of Kian Loyd Delos Santos,” read the reply made by their counsels from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

“From the foregoing, the herein respondents cannot deny the fact that the PNP-IAS has ultimately ruled out their claim that their operation is a legitimate police operation,” the PAO stressed.

The DOJ is currently conducting a preliminary investigation over the complaints filed by Kian’s parents and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over the August 16 killing of their son in Caloocan City.

Meanwhile, the respondents were allowed to file their rejoinders on October 27, after which the case is considered submitted for resolution.