DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The mother of slain teenage student Kian Loyd delos Santos could not help herself when she and husband Saldy finally got the chance to meet President Duterte yesterday afternoon. She asked him if he could be hugged.

“Sir, pwede ko po kayong mayakap (may I embrace you)?” Lorenza delos Santos asked – a request that the Chief Executive accommodated.

A source said Lorenza at first acted awkward during the meeting, which the couple had requested after their 17-year-old son was buried Saturday.

The couple also did the clenched fist sign, which is often associated with Duterte.

Lorenza asked some groups, including political organizations, to stop using their family and Kian’s death for political purposes.

“Sana po ay tigilan na po kasi naman po hindi kami namumulitika, ang gusto lang po namin ay mabigyan ng katarungan yong pagkamatay ng anak ko (I hope they stop it. We are not into politics. All we want is justice for my son’s death),” she said.

Lorenza, an overseas Filipino worker, believes Duterte could expedite the resolution of Kian’s murder.

She added that she and her husband are now at peace after talking with the President.

Duterte reportedly promised the couple that he would do everything to ensure an early resolution of the case.

The President, Lorenza added, also promised that he would not allow the guilty policemen to go unpunished.

Kian, a grade 11 student, was killed in an alleged shootout with police in Caloocan City on Aug. 16.

Saldy also said that they have faith in Duterte’s promises.

“Panatag na ang loob namin,” Kian’s father said. – With Alexis Romero