Shooting of Kian Loyd delos Santos
On the evening of August 16, 2017, 17-year-old Kian Loyd delos Santos was fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan, Metro Manila. The case became controversial when the official police reports differed from witness accounts and CCTV footage.
Background
Philippine drug war
In accordance with his campaign promise, President Rodrigo Duterte initiated the contreversial war on drugs shortly after he took office on June 30, 2016. As of July 26, 2017, the reported 68,000 anti-drug operations which resulted in around 97,000 arrests, 1.3 million surrenders, and around 3,500 drug personalities killed in legitimate police operations. Thousands of others have been killed by vigilantes, which the police have categorized as "deaths under investigation". The night of August 14-15, just prior to Delos Santos' death, was the "bloodiest night" in the Philippine drug war, where dozens of police operations resulted in 32 drug suspects killed and more than 100 arrested in Bulacan province.
Kian Loyd delos Santos
Kian Loyd D. delos Santos was 17 years old at the time of his death and was a resident of Barangay 160, Caloocan. Delos Santos was the third of four siblings. His mother, Lorenza, worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while his father, Zaldy, operated a sari-sari store which was manned by Kian from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. everyday before he went to school.
Both Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, the Police Chief of Caloocan City, and Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, the commander of the local Police Community Precinct, have separately admitted that Delos Santos was not on their police watch list.
Incident
At around 8:00 p.m PST on August 16, 2017, officers of the Philippine National Police led by PO3 Arnel Oares, were conducting a "one-time big-time" anti-illegal drugs operation in Barangay 160, Caloocan City where Delos Santos lived.
At 8:57 p.m., C/Insp. Amor Cerillo and another police officer, both in plainclothes, arrived at the hall of Barangay 160 to report a supposed shootout. In a muddy and dark alley near his house, which was the site of the alleged encounter, Delos Santos was found in fetal position with a gunshot wound to his head. Recovered from his corpse were a .45-caliber pistol, four cartridges, and two sachets of suspected methamphetamine.
According to S/Supt. Chito Bersaluna and C/Insp. Amor Cerillo, a drug dealer that they earlier arrested claimed that Delos Santos was the mule of "Neneng" Escopino, a local drug dealer on the police watch list.
Witness accounts and CCTV footage
Witnesses claim that Delos Santos was just loitering near his house at around 8:00 p.m., when two unidentified men grabbed him and led him away.
A 13-year-old witness interviewed by The Manila Bulletin claimed that she saw Delos Santos being punched and slapped by four armed men in plainclothes before he was dragged away.
Delos Santos' uncle, Randy, questioned the police claim that the victim had a concealed firearm, since his nephew was wearing boxers at that time. A rally called Himagsikan para kay Kian ("Revolution for Kian") will take place on August 21 at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
Senator JV Ejercito, through a series of tweets, described the incident as "very, very disturbing". He recommended that the police officers involved should all be legally prosecuted. Senator Joel Villanueva called it the "breakdown of our humanity, with people cheering the killings of individuals who have not been proven guilty" and added that "we cannot allow lawlessness in this country". In a statement, Senator Francis Escudero described the police officers involved as "killers and criminals". While Senator Sonny Angara called for the reform of the justice system and decried vigilante justice and killings. In a statement, National Youth Commission chairperson Aiza Seguerra said "We want to curb the drug menace; however, we are alarmed by the deaths and injury of minors in the process".Senators Antonio Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian, and Loren Legarda also condemned the shooting of Delos Santos.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson insinuated that the PNP would cover up the incident.<ref name="sen1" />
Background
Philippine drug war
In accordance with his campaign promise, President Rodrigo Duterte initiated the contreversial war on drugs shortly after he took office on June 30, 2016. As of July 26, 2017, the reported 68,000 anti-drug operations which resulted in around 97,000 arrests, 1.3 million surrenders, and around 3,500 drug personalities killed in legitimate police operations. Thousands of others have been killed by vigilantes, which the police have categorized as "deaths under investigation". The night of August 14-15, just prior to Delos Santos' death, was the "bloodiest night" in the Philippine drug war, where dozens of police operations resulted in 32 drug suspects killed and more than 100 arrested in Bulacan province.
Kian Loyd delos Santos
Kian Loyd D. delos Santos was 17 years old at the time of his death and was a resident of Barangay 160, Caloocan. Delos Santos was the third of four siblings. His mother, Lorenza, worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while his father, Zaldy, operated a sari-sari store which was manned by Kian from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. everyday before he went to school.
Both Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna, the Police Chief of Caloocan City, and Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, the commander of the local Police Community Precinct, have separately admitted that Delos Santos was not on their police watch list.
Incident
At around 8:00 p.m PST on August 16, 2017, officers of the Philippine National Police led by PO3 Arnel Oares, were conducting a "one-time big-time" anti-illegal drugs operation in Barangay 160, Caloocan City where Delos Santos lived.
At 8:57 p.m., C/Insp. Amor Cerillo and another police officer, both in plainclothes, arrived at the hall of Barangay 160 to report a supposed shootout. In a muddy and dark alley near his house, which was the site of the alleged encounter, Delos Santos was found in fetal position with a gunshot wound to his head. Recovered from his corpse were a .45-caliber pistol, four cartridges, and two sachets of suspected methamphetamine.
According to S/Supt. Chito Bersaluna and C/Insp. Amor Cerillo, a drug dealer that they earlier arrested claimed that Delos Santos was the mule of "Neneng" Escopino, a local drug dealer on the police watch list.
Witness accounts and CCTV footage
Witnesses claim that Delos Santos was just loitering near his house at around 8:00 p.m., when two unidentified men grabbed him and led him away.
A 13-year-old witness interviewed by The Manila Bulletin claimed that she saw Delos Santos being punched and slapped by four armed men in plainclothes before he was dragged away.
Delos Santos' uncle, Randy, questioned the police claim that the victim had a concealed firearm, since his nephew was wearing boxers at that time. A rally called Himagsikan para kay Kian ("Revolution for Kian") will take place on August 21 at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
Senator JV Ejercito, through a series of tweets, described the incident as "very, very disturbing". He recommended that the police officers involved should all be legally prosecuted. Senator Joel Villanueva called it the "breakdown of our humanity, with people cheering the killings of individuals who have not been proven guilty" and added that "we cannot allow lawlessness in this country". In a statement, Senator Francis Escudero described the police officers involved as "killers and criminals". While Senator Sonny Angara called for the reform of the justice system and decried vigilante justice and killings. In a statement, National Youth Commission chairperson Aiza Seguerra said "We want to curb the drug menace; however, we are alarmed by the deaths and injury of minors in the process".Senators Antonio Trillanes, Risa Hontiveros, Win Gatchalian, and Loren Legarda also condemned the shooting of Delos Santos.
Meanwhile, Senator Panfilo Lacson insinuated that the PNP would cover up the incident.<ref name="sen1" />
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