While underscoring that the court will not accord special treatment to the three police officers accused of killing and framing 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos, a judge has ordered two of them committed to the Valenzuela City Jail for their own safety.
In his March 23 order, Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. of the Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 125 said that Police Officers 1 Jerwin Cruz and Jeremias Pereda should be detained at Valenzuela City Jail “for humanitarian considerations and to prevent the possibility of harm and danger to their lives.”
But he allowed their coaccused, PO3 Arnel Oares, to remain at the detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, after he presented proof that some of the suspects he had arrested were currently at the Caloocan City Jail.
All three policemen used to be with the Caloocan police when they shot and killed Delos Santos, who they said was a drug runner, on Aug. 16, 2017. Their claim, however, was refuted by witnesses.