MANILA, Philippines — It has been a year since the killings of teenagers Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo “Kulot” de Guzman in Caloocan.
But justice remains elusive as ever, with only five rookie policemen detained for the murders while their superiors have since been promoted.
This is the harsh reality faced by Kian’s family, as they commemorated yesterday his first death anniversary, lighting candles and offering mass at the site where Kian was killed in Baesa, Caloocan.
Since being relieved following the controversies that arose from the teenagers’ deaths, former Northern Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Fajardo and Caloocan police chief Senior Superintendent Chito Bersaluna have been promoted as Highway Patrol Group and Bulacan provincial police chiefs, respectively.
Meanwhile, six months after being charged in court, Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and PO1s Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz remain detained as they face trial for 17-year-old Kian’s murder on Aug. 16, 2017 before the Caloocan regional trial court (RTC).
PO1s Ricky Arquilita and Jefrey Perez are also detained as they face trial before the Navotas RTC for the murder of Carl and Kulot.
Carl, 19, was killed before dawn on Aug. 18, 2017 after he and 14-year-old Kulot allegedly robbed taxi driver Tomas Bagcal along C-3 Road in Caloocan.
Arquilita and Perez stand accused of shooting a defenseless Arnaiz while he was begging for mercy at a grassy area in Navotas and then stabbing Kulot before throwing him into a river in Gapan, Nueva Ecija.
Forgiveness
During the mass marking Kian’s death anniversary yesterday, Father Flavie Villanueva called on residents to be forgiving even as he condemned the culture of impunity in the administration’s narcotics crackdown.
“Is this proof of what he said that the drug war would be relentless and chilling?“ the priest said, referring to President Duterte’s vow to continue his “chilling” war on drugs.
Kian’s eldest sister Krizzhia read a letter written by their mother Lorenzana, who said she missed the affordable food and the sense of camaraderie in their community. She and Kian’s father Saldy have been living in safehouse since being accepted into the Witness Protection Program.
Commission on Human Rights chairperson Chito Gascon and Australian missionary Patricia Fox joined the drug war victims in expressing solidarity with Kian’s loved ones.
In an interview, Gascon said while he had hoped the teenagers’ deaths would be the last in the drug war, the young ones continued to be victims in the brutal anti-illegal drugs drive.
„We hope Kian’s case is not the only case to be given justice, but for all victims of the war on drugs,“ Gascon said.
At the sidelines of a court hearing that coincided with yesterday’s commemoration, Kian’s father Saldy said he remains confident the evidence against the police officers is strong.
„I hope they can still sleep at night. I hope they see Kian in their sleep, kneeling and asking for mercy,“ he said.
Department of Justice state prosecutor Robert Ong said based on the speed of the case, the judge on Kian’s case may render a decision next month.
The murder, torture and planting of evidence cases filed before the Navotas and Caloocan trial courts over Carl and Kulot’s deaths are in limbo.
The murder case in Caloocan was dismissed without prejudice to refiling because the alleged crime happened in Navotas.
During the first trial date last week at the Navotas trial court where the case was refiled, the prosecution – which had to start anew its presentation of evidence on the murder case – was reprimanded by Presiding Judge Romana Maria Melchora Lindayag-Del Rosario for not having a witness around, risking their right to present evidence.