Court orders arrest of cops, asset in Kian slay
The Caloocan regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the arrest of three police officers and their informant for the murder of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos.
In his order dated Feb. 6, RTC Branch 125 Presiding Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. said he found probable cause to hold on trial former Caloocan Police Office 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, PO1 Jerwin Cruz and police asset Renato Loveraz, alias Nonong, on charges of murder and planting of evidence.
No bail was recommended for the four in the murder charge.
“Upon examination and perusal of the information and the records of the preliminary investigation attached to the information, the court finds probable cause to issue a warrant of arrest,” Azucena said in his order.
“We will comply with the arrest order,” Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao said, adding the three policemen once arrested would be transferred to a jail. They are currently on restricted duty, having been reassigned to the regional headquarters south of Manila in the wake of the teenager’s murder. The policemen and the informant were charged for allegedly conspiring to kill Delos Santos by shooting him at the back of the head during an anti-criminality operation in Baesa, Caloocan City in the evening of Aug. 16, 2017. The warrants were issued to the National Bureau of Investigation and Camp Crame against the police, who are in restrictive custody at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit in Camp Bagong Diwa.