THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday started hearing the murder and torture charges against police officers involved in the killing of 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos.
The victim's parents, Saldy and Lorenza, represented by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) and the representatives from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) appeared in the hearing.
Four respondents namely Police Officer (PO) 3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jeremias Pereda, PO1 Jerwin Cruz and relieved Caloocan City precinct commander Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo also turned up at the hearing.
Aside from murder and torture cases filed by Delos Santos' parents, the respondents are also facing complaints filed by the NBI for violation of domicile under the Revised Penal Code and planting of evidence.
Seven witnesses, two of them minors, subscribed and sworn to their affidavits before the investigating prosecutors.
During the hearing, the panel of prosecutors led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel Austria has ordered the respondents to file their respective counter affidavits in the next hearing set on September 25.
PAO chief Persida Rueda-Acosta has requested the panel to subpoena other members of the operating unit that conducted the anti-drug operation on August 16 in Barangay 160, Caloocan City. The panel will course the subpoena through Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) head Alfegar Triambulo.
The panel has scheduled another hearing on October 2 for PAO to submit a reply affidavit and on October 10 for the filing of the respondents' rejoinder.
Delos Santos was shot by Caloocan policemen after he allegedly fought back. The cops claim the victim was a drug runner but the family denied Delos Santos' involvement in drugs. (SunStar Philippines)