Police to probe death of Kian Loyd delos Santos in Caloocan drug raid

The Caloocan police chief on Friday said they will investigate the death of a Grade 11 student who was killed during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City on Wednesday.

Police Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna said they already gave instruction to the Police Community Precinct 7 (PCP7) to restrict the area in preparation for the pending investigation regarding the death of the Kian Loyd delos Santos during the Oplan Galugad.

He also said they are holding meetings to discuss the irregularity of the said operation.

"Tayo rin ay nagmi-meeting rin base 'don sa irregularity ng operation ng kapulisan. Kung wala naman silang mai-prove na ito ay pagkakamali, patuloy po ang pag-stand by sa version ng PNP [Philippine National Police]," he said in a phone interview on Unang Balita on Friday.

Bersaluna said the PNP will not tolerate the behavior of the police, if proven wrong.

He explained that the police will be subjected under disciplinary measures if the wrong deed is proven.

"Papatunayan po natin, kaya nga po tayo nag-iimbestiga. At itong disciplinary authorities ay nagsagawa rin ng imbestigasyon kung may kasalanan po," Bersaluna said.

He also called on victims of cop abuse to present valid evidence to support their complaint.

"'Yung mga sibilyan naman po, puwede silang magsampa ng kaukulang demanda laban sa ating kapulisan kung sa tingin nila ay may pagkukulang o kalabisan na nagawa," he said.

Seventeen-year-old Grade 11 student delos Santos was shot to death on Wednesday night in Barangay 160 in Caloocan City during the Oplan Galugad.

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. —Akari Nakano/KG, GMA News