THE parents of slain teenager Kian Loyd Delos Santos on Monday insisted that 12 more former Caloocan policemen should be criminally indicted for the killing of their son last August 16.
During Monday’s preliminary investigation on the case, Saldy and Lorenza Delos Santos asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reject the defense of the 12 policemen that they could not be held liable for Kian’s killing.
The complainants, represented by Public Attorneys Office chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, claimed that the 12 policemen were part of the police team that conducted the anti-illegal drugs operation where Kian was killed, thus, should not be spared from any criminal liability.
The respondents–Police Officers 2 Arnel Canezares, Diony Corpuz and Fernan Cano; and PO1s Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr., Silverio Garcia Jr., Ronald Herrera, Myrldon Yagi, Christian Joy Aguilar, Ceferino Paculan, J-Rossillini Lorenzo, Erwin Romeroso and Ferdinand Claro—already denied the charges in their answer filed last week.
They are facing charges of murder, torture, planting of evidence and violation of domicile under Article 128 of the Revised Penal Code.
The initial complaint named only four policemen as respondents – Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz of Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7.
The policemen denied criminal liability in their counter-affidavit submitted to the DOJ.
The respondents claimed that Kian was killed after he shot them.
The panel of prosecutors headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel Austria required the 12 additional respondents to submit their rejoinder in the next hearing scheduled on Wednesday.
A total of 16 witnesses have been presented by the Public Attorney’s Office and National Bureau of Investigation to support the charges against Cerillo, Oares, Pereda and Cruz.
The victim’s camp has also submitted to the panel CCTV footages in the area operated by the barangay, as well as results of the forensic exam conducted on the victim.
Malacañang earlier ordered the Caloocan City police to undergo a major overhaul as part of efforts to fix what seems to be a broken command of uniformed men.
“The PNP leadership’s effort to instill discipline and promote character-building, while enhancing the performance of personnel and units, would be relentless,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said in a statement.
Aside from the killings of de los Santos and Arnaiz, some members of the city police were also caught on security footage breaking into a house.
“We call on everyone to rally behind our authorities as they enforce the law and carry out their operations within legal processes,” Abella said.
The murder of minors, however, did not only stain the image of the Caloocan police, but also tarnished the already questionable war on drugs. At present, the city’s policemen are facing charges of murder, torture, child abuse, robbery, trespassing and violation of domicile.