DOJ wraps up preliminary probe on Kian slay case

The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday concluded its preliminary investigation on the death of grade 11 student Kian Loyd delos Santos in Caloocan City.

Associate Prosecution Attorney 2 Moises Acayan, a member of the prosecution panel which conducted the preliminary investigation, said the case has been submitted for resolution.

“Hopefully ma-out ng second week of November yung resolution. At least sa level namin (Hopefully the resolution will be released on the second week of November by the prosecution panel),” Acayan said.

After which, Acayan said the resolution will be forwarded for approval to Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and Acting Prosecutor Jorge Catalan.

The panel conducted the preliminary investigation following the criminal complaints filed by Kian’s parents – Saldy and Lorenza – and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against 16 police officers who have been named as respondents in the case.

Four police officers were initially named as respondents, namely, dismissed Caloocan City Police Community Precinct 7 commander Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda.

Later on, the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), which represented Kian’s parents as legal counsel added 12 more names, including PO2 Arnel Canezares, PO2 Diony Corpuz, PO2 Fernan Cano, PO1 Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr., PO1 Silverio Garcia Jr., PO1 Ronald Herrera, PO1 Myrldon Yagi, PO1 Christian Joy Aguilar, PO1 Ceferino Paculan, PO1 J-Rossillini Lorenzo, PO1 Erwin Romeroso, and PO1 Ferdinand Claro.

The respondents are accused of murder, torture, violation of domicile, and planting of evidence.

During yesterday’s last hearing, all 16 respondents submitted a joint rejoinder in defense to the accusations against them.

Lawyer Oliver Yuan, the legal counsel of the respondents, pointed out if ever the DOJ does decide to file a case in court not everyone should be named as accused.

“It is clear in this case not everyone should be charged in court,” Yuan said.

Ang nasa crime scene lang talaga tatlo (there were only three in the crime scene). Only PO3 Oares, PO1 Pereda, and PO1 Cruz,” he pointed out.

The lawyer also cited that one of PAO’s witnesses said the three police officers were seen coming out from the house of Kian with a masked asset on the night he died during the conduct of antiillegal drug operations in his neighborhood in Caloocan City.

Yuan said this bolstered the claims of the three police officers that the person they were seen with in the Barangay’s closed circuit television footage is the asset and not Kian.

The youth’s death has caused public outrage as the incident is believed to be another extra-judicial killing, contrary to police claims that Kian fired a gun at the three police officers who retaliated and killed him.