Cops in Kian slay charged
Murder, torture complaints filed before DOJ
Murder and torture complaints were filed on Friday against policemen involved in the killing of Grade 11 student Kian delos Santos before the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Kian’s parents Saldy and Lorenza, accompanied and assisted by Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Chief Persida Acosta, filed the complaint against the suspects more than a week after the death of the 17-year-old student.
Named respondents were Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, the relieved commander of Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7; Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares; PO1 Jerwin Cruz; and PO1 Jeremias Pereda. They were accused of committing murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) and for torturing a minor resulting in death in violation of Section 4(A-1) and (A-14), and Section 14(1) and (5) of Republic Act 9745, the AntiTorture Law.
Hundreds of people, including relatives, friends, neighbors, and various groups fighting for human rights, are expected to attend the interment of Kian delos Santos today (August 26) at the La Loma Cemetery.
Supporters will wear white shirts with printed messages calling for justice.
In preparation for the interment, close friends of Kian are assisting in the T-shirt printing.
“Halos buong barangay na ang nagpatatak. Parang tulong na po namin ito sa aming kaibigan. Sana po masaya na siya kung nasaan man siya ngayon (Almost all of the people in our barangay already had their shirts printed. It’s our way of helping our friend. We hope he is now happy wherever he is),” said 21-year-old Jerqi.
Randy, the uncle of Kian, said several people sponsored the printing of the shirts.
AJ, Kian’s 21-year-old cousin, said their family is expressing hope justice will be served after all the investigations.
“Nakakalungkot po kasi hindi ko man lang po nakita o nakausap yung pinsan ko bago po siya namatay. Nakapunta lang po kami sa kanila kung kailan patay na siya (I feel sad because I never had the chance to meet or personally talk with my cousin before he was killed. We just went here when he was already dead),” AJ said.
“Ang gusto lang po namin ay hustisya para sa pinsan ko. Sana po umamin na sila (involved policemen) at pagbayaran ang ginawa nila (We just want justice for my cousin. I hope that the involved policemen will admit what they have done and pay for it),” AJ said.
Meanwhile, mourners, including friends, relatives, and various support groups of slain Kian delos Santos, on Friday held a “Justice for Kian” run to condemn the killing of the 17-year-old student and all the victims of extrajudicial killings.
The people who joined the run were clad in white shirts with the message: “Justice for Kian!”
One of those who joined the event, which started at 8 a.m., was Fr. Robert Reyes.
The run proceeded to the Caloocan Police Community Precinct 7, where the cops involved in the killing of the Grade 11 student were assigned.
For a while, the participants stayed in front of the police precinct to air their sentiments about the bloody war on illegal drugs that has led to the deaths of innocent people, like Kian.
At one point, Fr. Reyes blocked a departing patrol car in front of the PCP-7, allowing it to proceed only after he had blessed it and shared with its passengers his call to end the killings in the war on drug.
Reyes then went inside the police precinct to pray for and bless the detainees.
Migrante party-list, a group supporting the rights of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), also held a candlelighting ceremony at the place where Kian was shot by the policemen.
Lorenza delos Santos, 43, mother of Kian is an OFW who works as a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia.
Kian, who dreamed of becoming a cop, was killed by policemen during an “Oplan Galugad” operation in Barangay 160, Libis Baesa, Caloocan, on the night of August 16.