Arrest warrants out soon for suspects in Kian’s slay

Appearing for the preliminary investigation of the killing of
17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos at the Department of Justice are PO1 Jerwin Cruz, PO3 Arnel Oares and PO1 Jeremias Pereda. One of the witnesses(below) takes her oath. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Arrest warrants are expected to be issued soon for three Caloocan City police officers and a civilian informant accused of involvement in the frame-up and murder of 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos.

On Monday, the case against PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz and PO1 Jeremias Pereda, all formerly assigned at the Police Community Precinct 7 (PCP 7), and their police asset, Renato “alias Nono” Loveras, was raffled off to the sala of presiding Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 125.

Azucena will have 10 days to issue an arrest warrant against the four who are indicted by the Department of Justice for the murder and planting of evidence against Delos Santos.

On top of these, Cruz and Pereda also face charges of violating Article 128 of the Revised Penal Code for allegedly entering the victim’s house without a search warrant.

The police claimed they were forced to kill Delos Santos after he allegedly shot it out with PCP 7 personnel conducting a “One Time, Big Time” operation at Barangay 160, Libis Baesa, on Aug. 16, 2017.

The police later presented Loveras who said that Delos Santos had worked for him as a drug courier.

But their claims were denied by witnesses who said police officers had mauled the teen before shooting him in the back of the head.