(Eagle News) — Two of the three police officers believed involved in the killing of Kian delos Santos in an anti-drug operation in Caloocan last week have admitted it was the 17-year-old they were holding in footage from the barangay’s closed-circuit television camera.
“Inamin ng dalawang pulis na sila nga daw ang nakaakbay kay Kian at si Kian ang nasa video, taliwas sa kanilang unang sinasabi na yun ay informant,” Internal Affairs Service Inspector General Alfegar Triambulo told reporters recently.
Triambulo noted that based on the footage, and testimonies, “apparently there were lapses” in the operation that involved 13 policemen.
As such, Triambulo said they would recommend that the 13 be disarmed and placed under restrictive custody to encourage other witnesses to come out.
“Para maglabasan, hindi matatakot yung witnesses, para hindi matakot yung iba na pwedeng magbigay ng impormasyon..,” he said.
So far, P04 Arnel Oares; PO1 Jeremias Pereda and P01 Jerwin Cruz, are under restrictive custody.
Chief Insp. Amor Cerilo, the police community precinct commander, Caloocan City police chief Senior Supt. Chito Bersaluna, and Northern Police District Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo have also been relieved of their posts to ensure an impartial investigation into the incident.
According to Triambulo, the Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service is also set to recommend the filing of administrative charges against the policemen involved in the operation.
He said the IAS would submit the recommendation to PNP chief Director Ronald dela Rosa today.
“Sa ngayon, sa nakikita namin…malamang apparently mayroong lapses kaya kami ay magrerekomenda na file-an ng kaso. Apparently may irregularity in the performance of duty,” he said.
