SC affirms murder conviction of 3 cops in Kian delos Santos killing

The Supreme Court has affirmed the murder conviction of three police officers: Police Officer III Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, and PO1 Jerwin Cruz, for the killing of Kian delos Santos during a 2017 drug bust operation.

The high court's Second Division affirmed the findings of the Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals, noting that treachery was present as delos Santos was not in a position to defend himself when shot.

Oares admitted to shooting delos Santos.

Witness accounts and surveillance videos showed that the officers apprehended and searched delos Santos, then dragged him to a dark area in Caloocan City after he pleaded to go home for an exam.

The three police officers were sentenced to reclusion perpetua, or 20 to 40 years in prison, and ordered to pay the delos Santos family P75,000 as civil indemnity, P75,000 as moral damages, P75,000 as exemplary damages, and P50,000 as temperate damages.

Delos Santos' death became a symbol of former president Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, casting doubt on the conduct of the Philippine National Police.