By Benjamin Pulta/PNA
MANILA — The Caloocan City regional trial court (RTC) has ordered the transfer of two detained policemen from the Valenzuela City Jail to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City to serve their sentence for the murder of Kian Loyd delos Santos in 2017.
In a mittimus order dated December 3 and was recently released to the media, Caloocan City RTC Branch 125 Judge Rodolfo Azucena Jr. ordered the commitment of PO1 Jeremias T. Pereda and PO1 Jerwin R. Cruz to the NBP to serve their sentence for the crime without eligibility of parole.
In November 2018, the Caloocan court convicted three Caloocan cops for the killing of de los Santos, 17, who was allegedly a drug suspect, during a buy-bust operation two years ago.
In a 35-page decision, the judge found the two police officers, along with PO3 Arnel Oares, guilty of the murder of delos Santos.
Oares, who admitted being the actual gunman, filed a separate motion for reconsideration.
The three policemen were also directed to pay the heirs of delos Santos PHP100,000 as civil indemnity; PHP100,000 as moral damages; PHP45,000 as actual damages; and PHP100,000 as exemplary damages.
The court, however, acquitted the three of illegal drugs charges and planting of evidence, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove their guilt on these aspects.
