Kian’s photo serves as the “CCTV” at his old store. —Krixia Subingsubing
Although they chose not to visit his grave on All Saints’ Day, the uncle of Kian Loyd delos Santos said they have not forgotten the teenager who was killed in August during a botched police operation in Caloocan City.
Randy delos Santos, the 17-year-old boy’s uncle, told the Inquirer on Wednesday that he and his family continue to pray for justice for his nephew.
“This Undas, we pray for a favorable outcome in his case. We hope that the policemen who did this to him will be brought to justice so that Kian’s death will not be in vain,” he said.
Randy expressed hope that Delos Santos “would be the last to die like that”—meaning under suspicious circumstances during police-led drug operations.
The teenager was shot dead on Aug. 16 by Caloocan policemen who claimed he fired at them as they were conducting an anticriminality campaign in Barangay 160.
His death solidified opposition to President Duterte’s war on drugs as witnesses, footage taken by a closed-circuit television camera and autopsy results belied the lawmen’s allegation.
No shootout, no resistance
Based on the CCTV camera footage, the Grade 12 student was dragged away without any resistance by the police, a fact bolstered by witnesses who claimed there was no shootout. Forensic tests also showed that Delos Santos was shot thrice in the back.
On Aug. 26, his family, through the Public Attorney’s Office, filed murder and torture charges in the Department of Justice against the four policemen tagged in the teenager’s death.
Randy said they still miss their “sweet and dutiful” Kian, whose loss was made more painful by the fact that it was the first death in their family.
“It would be understandable if we were commemorating the death of an elder family member such as myself. But there is nothing normal about us remembering Kian, one of our youngest [family members], on this day,” he added.
Randy explained that they chose not to visit his nephew’s tomb at La Loma Cemetery on Nov. 1 to avoid the media. But a few days ago, he went there to say a prayer and light a candle for the teenager.
“I even asked him for forgiveness if ever I have shortcomings in solving his death,” he said.
Saldy and Lorenza, Delos Santos’ parents, are currently under the Department of Justice’s witness protection program.
Randy condemned how his nephew was killed without being given the chance to defend himself from police allegations that he was a drug courier—a claim which surfaced only after his death. Relieved Caloocan police chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna later admitted that their evidence against the teenager was based on reports taken from social media.
Death before trial
“It’s one thing to accuse someone of wrongdoing and another to execute them without putting them on trial first. How will Kian defend himself when he is already dead?” he said.
“Sometimes it really makes you wish we followed the rule of the Bible: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life. But even uneducated men like me know we have to follow the rule of law and we believe the police involved in Kian’s death will be made to pay for their crimes,” Randy said.
As part of the healing process and struggle to return to a normal life, Randy and his family, along with grandparents Violeta and Antonio, have moved into the empty house of Saldy and Lorenza.
Last month, they reopened the school supply store that Kian used to man when he was still alive. Two framed photos of the teenager are displayed prominently in the store which the family jokingly refers to as “CCTVs.”
“Sometimes, Kian’s friends would buy from the store and we would joke, ‘Don’t steal anything from our store; he’s watching you,’” Randy’s wife, Ivy, said.
They said this was one way of keeping his spirit alive as they await the resolution of the case filed against the suspects. “We’re confident we can get justice for Kian,” Randy said. “[We know] the truth is on our side.”