12 more Caloocan cops face murder, torture raps over Kian slay

Twelve more Caloocan City policemen who were part of the August 16 police operation that led to the death of Grade 11 student Kian Lloyd delos Santos have been included in the criminal complaints for murder and torture.

Those who have been included are: Police Officers 2 (PO2) Arnel Canezares, Diony Corpuz, and Fernan Cano; and Police Officers 1 (PO1) Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr., Silverio Garcia Jr., Ronald Herrera, Myrldon Yagi,

Christian Joy Aguilar, Ceferino Paculan, Jossillini Lorenzo, Erwin Romeroso and Ferdinand Claro.

Kian’s parents, Saldy and Lorenza assisted by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) filed criminal complaints for murder and torture last August 25 and the panel of prosecutors is expected to wrap up their preliminary investigation within the month.

Initially named respondents in the Kian slay were former Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7 commander Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda.

“The claim of the herein complainants that their son, Kian Delos Santos has been unjustifiably killed is bolstered by the findings of the PNP-IAS that there is evidence to show that respondents PO3 Arnel G. Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz in unlawfully and unjustifiably using their firearms to shoot Kian Delos Santos with several shots absent no apparent, direct and clear threats to their lives is a clear transgression of the established rules and principles of the PNP Operational Procedures in conducting police operation,” read the pleading filed by the PAO before the DOJ.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also filed criminal complaints before the DOJ last August 31 against the four.

Since the start of the preliminary investigation, PAO Chief Persida Acosta urged the panel of prosecutors to include other cops who were part of the police operation in Caloocan City last August 16 which resulted in the death of Delos Santos.