3 cops in Kian slay invoke right to silence

MANILA, Philippines - Invoking their right against self-incrimination, the three police officers accused of killing 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos refused to answer questions from senators during the hearing yesterday into what is widely seen as another case of summary execution in the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremiah Pereda and PO1 Jerwin Cruz appeared before the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, which started an inquiry a week after Delos Santos was killed during an anti-drug operation near his home in Barangay 160 in Caloocan City at 8:45 p.m. of Aug. 16.

Also appearing at the hearing were top brass from the Philippine National Police (PNP) led by Director General Ronald dela Rosa and National Capital Regional Police office chief Director Oscar Albayalde.

The three accused police officers, who remain in restrictive custody, were not accompanied by lawyers, prompting Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the committee, to ask one of the lawyers in the Senate to act as their counsel.

Sen. Grace Poe asked them who shot Delos Santos. As Oares was about to reply, Lacson warned him that he was going to testify without the guidance of legal counsel.

A lawyer from the Senate arrived and was seen huddling with the three. A little later, a private lawyer arrived for the three police officers.

Oares, who is being tagged as the one who shot Delos Santos, invoked his right against self-incrimination as did the other two.

Cruz and Pereda, however, answered a few questions from Poe and other senators.

“If you refuse to answer, that demeanor of yours will somehow affect how the public sees you,” Lacson told the three police officers.

Chief Insp. Amor Cerillo, who was relieved as head of the Police Community Precinct 7 where the three policemen are assigned, said initial ballistics report indicated that the 9 millimeter slugs recovered from the crime scene came from Oares’ pistol.

Dela Rosa said after news on the killing broke, he immediately ordered the relief of concerned police officers as well as Cerillo and Northern Police District chief Senior Supt. Roberto Fajardo.

He said the PNP Internal Affairs Service had already recommended the pre-charge investigation for the officials and 10 others.

When Poe asked the three policemen about the CCTV footage showing two of them dragging a man whom witnesses said was Delos Santos, Cruz said it was not the victim but an “asset.”

He said the informant was being handled that way as the asset did not want to be seen by others.

The senator asked him what clothes the supposed asset was wearing; Cruz said he could no longer recall.

‘Social media’

Sen. Manny Pacquiao asked Cerillo and Fajardo for the basis of their men’s claim that the victim was involved in illegal drugs.

Fajardo said the anti-drug operation, of which the three policemen were part, was launched because of reports of drug dealing in various parts of the city.

A day after the incident, he said a drug suspect called “alias Nono” was arrested and pointed to Delos Santos as one of his runners.

Asked about other validation of the suspect’s claims, Fajardo said “social media posts” also pointed to Delos Santos.

He added a mobile phone was recovered during the operation that also indicated Delos Santos’ involvement in the drug trade.

The victim’s parents – Saldy and Lorenza – who were at the hearing, confronted the three police officers.

“I know my son. I raised him to respect others, fear God and respect elders because that’s all we have because we’re poor,” Lorenza said.