The father of 17-year-old Grade 11 student killed in a police operation in Caloocan City denied that his son was involved in illegal drug trade.
Saldy Delos Santos, father of slain Kian Delos Santos, claimed that there is no truth to the assertions of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he and any of his relatives use or sell drugs and that he was using his son as a drug courier.
“Hindi po, kahit po ang buong pamilya ko wala po, kahit mga kamag-anak ko, wala kayong makikita [No, not even my family, not even my relatives, you’ll see nothing],” Saldy said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel’s Hot Copy.
PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Sunday believed that Kian was a drug courier for his father and uncles according to an intelligence report from the Caloocan City police.
“Si Kian ay ginagamit ng kanyang ama. Ang ama niya mismo ang user, mga uncle ang mga pusher diyan at ginagamit si Kian na courier. Kaya nag-surface ang pangalan niya sa area mismo [Kian was being used by his father. His father is a user and his uncle are pushers and he (Kian) was used as a courier. That’s why his name surfaced in the area],” Dela Rosa said.
Caloocan police also claimed to have witness who will attest that Kian sells illegal drugs.
Saldy, however, maintained that his son is innocent and he and his family are not involved in drug business.
“Ang mga kabarangay ko po ang magpapatunay kung anong klaseng bata po iyan [My neighbors can attest if what kind of person Kian is],” Saldy said.“Mabuti pong bata ang anak ko. Naghahanapbuhay po kami ng maayos. Hindi po siya pala-barkada, wala po [He is an innocent man. We work pleasantly. He often join his group].”
He even added that his son was not in the drug watch list in the area and does not have derogatory record in their barangay.
Citing confidence of his family’s innocence, Saldy dared Dela Rosa to investigate the case himself.
“Kung maari sana, pumunta siya dito sa lugar namin at siya mismo ang mag-imbestiga [If ever, he (PNP Chief Dela Rosa) should go here and he himself should investigate],” Saldy said. “Mali po yung mga paratang na iyon, ang mas maganda siya mismo pumunta saming lugar para malaman niya. Hindi iyong kung saan siya nagsasalita. Pumunta siya dito sa bahay namin, sa mga paligid namin at tanungin niya [The claims are false. It is better if he go here himself so that he’ll know. He should go here and ask (people).”
Saldy expressed keenness to undergo drug test and challenged the police who killed his son to also do the same.
The Delos Santos family asked President Rodrigo Duterte to help them seek justice for Kian.
“Siyempre masakit ‘di ba? Masakit samin na sumuporta tapos ang anak ko naging biktima pa [It is painful of course. It is painful that we supported (President Duterte) but my son has become a victim] ,” Saldy said.