A WITNESS in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos was presented Tuesday at the Senate hearing into the drug war deaths.
"MC", who appeared for the first time in the Senate hearing, narrated what she saw during the evening of August 16 when Delo Santos was killed.
MC said at around 8 p.m. when she was about to buy rice and cigarette in a sari-sari store nearby, she came across two men dragging a person along the alley with another man following them.
"Yung isang pulis naka-ano (yakap) sa ulo ni Kian yung isa nakahawak sa leeg. Pabababa hanggang papuntang court. 'Yung time na 'yun kung saan sila papunta nandun po ako, hindi ko naman alam san nila papatayin 'yung bata, hindi ko naman alam na dun din pala sa malapit sa bahay namin," she said.
She said none of the three men fired shots as they were dragging Delos Santos.
"Wala po habang pababa pa sila. Nagpaputok na sila nung pababa na sa amin," said MC.
"'Yung dalawang may hawak sa leeg, hindi sila nagpa-putok. 'Yung nasa likod lang po ang nagpapa-putok kasi 'yung dalawa busy sila kakahawak kay Kian tapos 'yung isa, pababa na naka-bag siya 'yun ang may hawak ng baril nagpapaputok pababa," she added.
She said she was at least nine meters away from where Delos Santos was shot dead and she was able to recognize the face of the two policemen.
"Kasi 'yung bahay namin may balcony. Tatlong bahay lang pagitan makikita mo sila kasi ‘yung ilaw namin sa labas ng bahay bilog at malaki," she said.
“Tinulak si Kian sa gilid ng babuyan tapos naririnig ko si Kian sabi ‘sir wag po sir’ tapos ‘yun nagpa-putok na ‘yung isa, tapos ‘yung isa hindi ko na nakita san parte tinamaan dahil madilim po doon tapos sunod sunod na putok. Nakita ko mukha n’ya pero hindi ko alam san siya tinamaan dahil nasa gilid si Kian,” MC added.
When asked to identify who among Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and Police Officers 1 Jeremias Pereda and Jerwin Cruz she was referring to, MC pointed at Oares and Pereda.
The sped shells found in the crime scene matched to the service firearm of Oares, based on ballistics examination.
MC said she never heard a rumor within their neighborhood that Delos Santos was involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Kasi po marami nang namatay sa lugar namin na walang kalaban laban. Ang mga pulis po lagi nalang sa dahas hindi sa batas dinadaan. Marami akong kaibigan namatay sa lugar namin pero walang nangyare,” she said
Delos Santos was killed on August 16 during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operation in Baranggay 160, Caloocan City.
Pereda and Cruz earlier admitted that they were the ones seen on the CCTV footage but said it was not Delos Santos that they are dragging but their "asset."
Pereda, Oares and Cruz refused to answer any questions from the lawmakers, citing that a case against them have already been filed before the Department of Justice. (SunStar Philippines)