The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday cleared 13 police officers implicated in the death of 17-year old Kian Loyd delos Santos.

Only three police officers and a police asset have been charged for the death of Kian.

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READ: DOJ files raps vs 3 Caloocan cops over Kian slay

In its 41-page resolution, the DOJ dismissed the case against Chief Inspector Amor C. Cerillo, Police Officer 2 Arnel Canezares, PO2 Diony B. Corpuz, PO1 Reynaldo Dan M. Blanco Jr., PO2 Fernand C. Cano, PO1 Silverio C. Garcia Jr., PO1 Ronald B. Herrera, PO1 Myrldon L. Yagi, PO1 Christian Joy G. Aguilar, PO1 J-Rossillini O. Lorenzo, PO1 Erwin C. Romeroso, PO1 Ferdinand R. Claro and PO1 Ceferino B. Paculan.

The DOJ said Cerillo, precinct commander of Caloocan Police Station 6, cannot be held liable under the doctrine of command responsibility because there was no evidence to prove that he gave instructions to kill during the drug operation when Kian was killed.

“Stress is taken that there is no evidence that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has adopted a policy of summary execution of persons involved in drugs. Neither was it established that Cerilo, on his own, gave instructions, express or implied, to his subordinate policemen to kill any drug suspects,” the DOJ resolution added.

“To stress, any possible malfeasance or misfeasance on the part of Cerilo, even if the same has resulted to a botched anti-drug operation will not make him a conspirator to the crime/s possibly committed by his subordinates absent a clear showing that he was an actual participant thereto, or has knowledge of its commission,” the DOJ resolution said.

On the 12 other police officers, the DOJ said they were not at the crime scene at any time from any point where Kian was nabbed to the area where he was killed.

“Perforce, they could not participate in the alluded crime/s, give assent to or prevent their commission,” the DOJ resolution stated, adding that complainants also failed to present evidence that the 12 police officers have direct knowledge of the offense.

The resolution was recommended by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Tofel G. Austria, Assistant State Prosecutors Amenda Leano-Garcia and Moises Acayan. It was approved by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and Prosecutor General Jorge Catalan Jr. /je

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