Saldy delos Santos talks about his late son Kian Loyd delos Santos, a 17-year-old Grade 11 student killed during an alleged drug crack down, during a senate committee hearing in August. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
Parents of slain 17-year old Kian Loyd Delos Santos on Wednesday asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to also hold liable the 12 other police officers for the death of their son.
In the reply affidavit submitted by Saldy and Lorenza Delos Santos through the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) said the DOJ investigating panel should reject the defense of the 12 policemen who maintained in their counter-affidavits that they are not part of the implied conspiracy to kill Delos Santos.
The 12 policemen, PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said, were part of the police team that conducted the anti-illegal drugs operation where Kian was killed.
READ: Caloocan cops in Kian slay asks DOJ to dismiss murder, torture raps
“It is worthy to note that the Philippine National Police (PNP), through its Internal Affairs Services (IAS) in its conduct of a motu-propio investigation of the incident against all PNP Operatives of Caloocan Police Community Precinct No. 7, found all of the herein respondents liable for the death of Kian Loyd Delos Santos,” stated in the reply affidavit.
“From the foregoing, the herein respondents cannot deny the fact that the PNP-IAS has ultimately ruled out their claim that their operation is a legitimate police operation,” it further stated.
The respondents — Police Officers 2 Arnel Canezares, Diony Corpuz, and Fernan Cano; and PO1s Reynaldo Dan Blanco Jr., Silverio Garcia Jr., Ronald Herrera, Myrldon Yagi, Christian Joy Aguilar, Ceferino Paculan, J-Rossillini Lorenzo, Erwin Romeroso, and Ferdinand Claro — already denied the allegations of murder, torture, planting of evidence and violation of domicile under Article 128 of the Revised Penal Code.
The initial complaint identified only four policemen as respondents: Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz of Caloocan City police community precinct 7.
They also denied criminal liability in earlier answer, claiming that they killed Kian after the student shot them.
The panel of prosecutors headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel Austria required the 12 additional respondents to submit their rejoinder in the next hearing on Friday. /je