Kian’s family, friends say conviction of 3 cops a ‘Christmas gift’

his year would be the second time that Kian Delos Santos’ family and friends will be celebrating Christmas without him. He was killed by three cops in Caloocan City on August 16, 2017.

But this time around, the holidays will be a little merrier after the Caloocan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 125 found PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz guilty of killing the 17-year-old student.

“Wala pang Pasko, natanggap ko na agad ang regalo ni God – Kian (It’s not yet Christmas, but I have already received God’s gift – Kian),” Lenard Macorol, Kian’s best friend, said in a Facebook post.

Lenard, who visited Kian’s tomb with a group of his friends a day after promulgation day, said he and his friends are very happy with the verdict. “Sana masaya na siya kasi nakamit na niya ‘yung hustisya para sa kanya. Maging mapayapa na siya sa piling ni God (I hope he is happy because he already got the justice that he deserves. I hope he finds peace in God’s presence),” he said.

“Palagi namin siyang aalalahanin kasi mahal na mahal po namin siya (We will always remember him because we love him very much),” he said.

Lorenza Delos Santos, Kian’s mother, said she is grateful for the speedy resolution of the case.

“We’re happy because we proved to many people that Kian is innocent and the accusations of him being a drug courier are not true,” she said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, Carl Angelo Arnaiz’s father, Carlito Arnaiz, said he hopes that the same justice be given to his son.

“Sana ganon din ang kalabasan ng kaso ni Carl (I hope Carl’s case would get the same result),” he said.

Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, had gone missing after going out to buy snacks near his house in Cainta, Rizal on the night of August 17, 2017. Ten days later, his body was found at a morgue in Caloocan with five gunshot wounds, hematoma and abrasions.

PO1 Jeffrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquilita, who were tagged in the killing of Carl and his companion, Reynaldo de Guzman, alias “Kulot” are being tried for murder at the Navotas Regional Trial Court Branch 287.

“Magandang halimbawa ‘yan sa mga abusadong pulis. ‘Yan ang nagpapatunay na walang kinikilingan ang hustisya (That is a good example to abusive policemen. That proves that justice does not take sides),” he said.

Carlito is confident that the suspects will be convicted because the testimonies of the prosecution’s witness match the autopsy report done on Carl.