By Kristine Joy V. Patag
Reporter

THE NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday filed murder, planting of evidence raps against four Caloocan cops over the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos.

police
Police offiers involved in the death of Kian delos Santos attend the Senate hearing on determining the accountability of the Philippine National Police in the conduct of the campaign against illegal drugs that may have resulted in unjustified deaths of drug suspects. — SENATE PRIB / Alex Nueva España and Albert Calvelo

Police Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, Police Officer 3 (PO3) Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Tolete Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Roque Cruz are facing murder, violation of domicile under the Revised Penal Code (RPC), and planting of evidence under Section 29 of the Comprehensive of Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

In what has turned out to be the bloodiest week in President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, Mr. Delos Santos’ killing on the night of Aug. 16 received widespread condemnation, prompting even known presidential supporters in Congress to express concern.

Authorities claimed that the Grade 11 student fired a gun at them, prompting them to retaliate. However, a recorded closed- circuit television (CCTV) footage showed the student being dragged by the cops and that witnesses’ accounts claimed Mr. Delos Santos pleaded to spare his life since he had to take a test at school in the morning.

“Police protocol mandates that any police officer making an arrest should immediately search the arrested individual for any dangerous weapons or prohibited items and afterwards bring the arrested individual at the police station for proper filing of the case,” the NBI noted in its complaint.

But the bureau pointed out that Mr. Delos Santos was killed in an area opposite the police station “which proves that they [police] have no intention in bringing victim to their police office.”

The NBI also noted the ballistic examination results from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory revealed that two 9mm fired cartridge cases in the crime scene has the same characteristics of the 9mm pistol issued to Mr. Oares.

“Given the circumstances, gathered evidence proved that it was PO3 Arnel Oares who shot the victim,” the NBI said.

The NBI also cited that the paraffin examination on Mr. Delos Santos turned out negative, belying “the allegations that victim fired shots at them upon sensing their arrival so they have no other option than to fire back at victim, hitting him in the head causing his instantaneous death.”

“From the collective acts of herein Police Officers, prior, during and after the incident, it is very evident that they have one single purpose, that is to kill Victim,” the NBI said. “Based on the foregoing, there exists probable cause to charge all herein subjects for murder.”

Last Aug. 25, the boy’s parents, Saldy F. delos Santos and Lorenza D. delos Santos, filed a separate murder complaint against the four policemen and several unidentified people. They were accompanied by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta.

IBP SEEKS RECORDS OF OPERATION THAT LED TO SLAY
In a separate report, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) called for transparency in the ongoing investigations into the police force’s “Operation One Time, Big Time,” which resulted in the deaths of more than 90 persons — the bloodiest week so far in the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

As a result, the 40,000-strong IBP urged the police to release pre-operation information and spot reports in line with the administration’s Executive Order No. 02, series of 2016 on the Freedom of Information (FoI).

“We are desirous of a favorable response from the [PNP] which prides itself to be among the agencies that have enthusiastically taken the cudgels of transparency,” the IBP added.

The organization also noted that it has already issued formal requests on the said matter.

Casualties of Operation One Time, Big Time reached 91 persons “more or less…in the National Capital Region and in the provinces of Bulacan and Cavite,” the IBP said in a statement released through its national president Abdiel Dan Elijah S. Fajardo.

“Among the latest casualties is 17-year-old Kian delos Santos of Caloocan. Witnesses interviewed by the IBP consistently relate how he was arrested by police officers in plain officers in plain clothes who forcibly held him captive and brought him to an alley’s end — a squalid junction where Kian breathed his last despite gut-wrenching pleas to be released,” the IBP pointed out, noting that the deaths took place between Aug. 13 to 20.

Mr. Delos Santos’ death in the hands of Caloocan City police members has sparked public furor, prompting the Senate to conduct its own probe in aid of legislation. Government agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) are also currently conducting probe on the said case.

While these investigations are ongoing, “serious misgivings have been voiced as to the legitimacy of the entire police operation,” the IBP said.

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