Arrest warrants out vs. 3 Caloocan cops, asset charged for Kian slay

A local court has issued warrants of arrest against three policemen and an asset involved in the killing of 17-year-old Kiand Loyd delos Santos in August last year.

The Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 125 ordered the arrest of Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and Police Officers 1 Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz, who are facing non-bailable charges of murder and planting of evidence or firearms in connection with Delos Santos' killing.

An arrest warrant was also issued against police asset Renato Perez Loveraz, who is facing a bailable charge for violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act and murder.

It was Loveraz who claimed Delos Santos was a drug runner.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed the domicile charges filed against Pereda and Cruz for lack of jurisdiction.

The warrants are dated February 6.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed murder raps against the three policemen and the police asset for their involvement in Delos Santos' killing on Aug. 16, 2017, which triggered an outcry against the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs.

Caloocan cops initially said they shot Delo Santos in self-defense, but CCTV footage and witness accounts would later contradict their claims.

"Aside from their [Oares, Pereda and Cruz] admission as the ones being seen on the CCTV footage, PO3 Oares also acknowledged that he was the one who shot Kian although he insists that the killing was a consequence of his act of self-defense," the DOJ's resolution said.

"Unfortunately, and as stated, said three respondents' theory was effectively and persuasively overthrown by testimonies of credible witnesses and other evidence demonstrating the fact that they act in concert in order to achieve a common design, that is, to kill the minor victim, Kian delos Santos," it added. —ALG, GMA News