Grade 11 student killed during anti-drug op in Caloocan

A 17-year-old Grade 11 student was killed during an Oplan Galugad operation in Caloocan City on Wednesday night.

According to a report by Victoria Tulad on Unang Balita on Thursday, the victim identified as Kian Loyd delos Santos died after he was shot during a police operation in Barangay 160 in Caloocan City.

Investigators said the victim was spotted during the operation past 8 p.m. Police said he took off when he saw them approaching.

Police chased him but the victim allegedly drew a gun and fired at them, forcing them to fire back.

A relative of the victim, however, said this account is not true.

Randy delos Santos, the victim's uncle, said he asked bystanders what happened and was told that when one of the drug suspects saw the police coming, he passed on a packet of something (believed to be shabu) to the victim who - afraid of being caught with it in his possession - ran.

Relatives of delos Santos were at the time going around the barangay looking for him going as far as the nearby police station to ask if anyone had seen the boy.

That's when they heard the gunshots and when they went to investigate, found the victim slumped on the ground.

Recovered from delos Santos were a caliber-.45  and two sachets of suspected shabu.

The victim's relatives, however, said the items do not belong to the teenager.

Delos Santos is the third of four children. He wanted to finish schooling to help his family.

GMA News is still trying to contact the Caloocan Police chief for comment as of posting time. —KG/KVD, GMA News