MANILA- The Department of Justice (DOJ) has designated a 3-member panel of prosecutors to handle the preliminary investigation into the Kian Delos Santos slay case.
Officer-in-Charge Prosecutor General Severino Gaña, Jr. assigned the murder and torture case filed by Kian’s parents, Saldy and Lorenza delos Santos, to the following:
-Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel G. Austria;
-Assistant State Prosecutor Amanda L. Garcia; and
-Associate Prosecution Attorney Moises Acayan.
The complaint is against Caloocan City police station 7 chief Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda. Oares, Cruz, and Pereda were also charged with torture (torture of a minor leading to death).
Several ‘John Does’ were also impleaded.
The 17-year-old teen was killed in an anti-drug operation of the police last Aug. 16.
Policemen alleged he was a drug runner, but his parents insist he was not involved in the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, and, in fact, wanted to be a policeman.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II assured the public the DOJ will be fair in handling the case despite allegations of bias and prejudgment hurled by several opposition lawmakers.
Department of Justice, Kian Delos Santos, prosecution, war on drugs, extra-judicial killings, PNP, human rights, murder, torture, Vitaliano Aguirre