Cops in Kian slay ignore order to submit affidavits

The police officers implicated in the killing of 17-yearold high school student Kian Loyd delos during an antidrug operation in Caloocan City have ignored the directive of the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (IAS) to submit their counter-affidavits.

IAS Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo said yesterday that the 17 Caloocan policemen have failed to heed the order issued last Aug. 25 to submit their counter-affidavits.

The policemen were given five days to send their sworn statements and evidence to contradict the allegations against them.

“They did not submit in the given period,” Triambulo said.

Triambulo said he would now endorse the case to a hearing officer for summary dismissal proceedings.

Among the concerned policemen were Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz who accosted Delos Santos before the victim was shot dead last Aug. 16

“More or less it’s around one month for the hearing officer to resolve the case,” said Triambulo, citing rules from the National Police Commission.

Also included in the list are former Caloocan police chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna and 12 other policemen who took part in the anti-drug operation in Caloocan.

Triambulo earlier said Bersaluna was included based on the doctrine of command responsibility, being the police chief of Caloocan.

The police officers could face penalties which include demotion of rank and dismissal from the service.

Triambulo expressed confidence in their case against the policemen.

“What I can say is that our evidence is very airtight,” he said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the drug suspect who was identified as Renato “Nono” Loveras was with the police officers who accosted Delos Santos before he was shot dead in an alleged shootout in Caloocan City last Aug. 16.

NBI agents said Nono was an asset of Oares, Pereda and Cruz. – Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong