MANILA, Philippines — The father of the 17-year-old boy slain in a Caloocan police operation last week has denied he and his son were involved in the illegal drug trade.
Saldy Delos Santos, father of Kian Delos Santos, said there is no truth to the Philippine National Police’s claims that he was using his son as a drug courier.
“Hindi po, kahit po ang buong pamilya ko wala po, kahit mga kamag-anak ko, wala kayong makikita,” Saldy said in an interview with ANC’s Hot Copy when asked if he or any of his relatives use or sell drugs.
Saldy maintained that his son, whom police claim was killed in a shootout, is innocent.
He said his son does not even know how to curse.
“Ang mga kabarangay ko po ang magpapatunay kung anong klaseng bata po iyan,” Saldy said.
“Mabuti pong bata ang anak ko. Naghahanapbuhay po kami ng maayos. Hindi po siya pala-barkada, wala po,” he added.
On Sunday, PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, citing an intelligence report from the Caloocan City police, claimed that Kian was a drug courier for his father and uncles.
Caloocan police also claim to have a witness who will prove that Kian sold illegal drugs.
“Si Kian ay ginagamit ng kanyang ama. Ang ama niya mismo ang user, mga uncle ang mga pusher diyan at ginagamit si Kian na courier. Kaya nag-surface ang pangalan niya sa area mismo,” Dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa also said the Delos Santos' neighbors are afraid to speak out against them.
Despite these claims, Saldy maintained that he and his family are not involved in drugs.
He said his son was not in the list of drug suspects in the area and does not have derogatory record in their barangay.
'Dela Rosa should investigate our drug involvement'
Saldy then challenged Dela Rosa to investigate the case himself as he is confident of their family’s innocence.
“Kung maari sana, pumunta siya dito sa lugar namin at siya mismo ang mag-imbestiga,” Saldy said.
“Mali po yung mga paratang na iyon, ang mas maganda siya mismo pumunta saming lugar para malaman niya. Hindi iyong kung saan siya nagsasalita. Pumunta siya dito sa bahay namin, sa mga paligid namin at tanungin niya,” he added.
Saldy also said he is willing to undergo drug test and dared the police who shot his son to also do the same.
The Delos Santos family, who supported President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 the elections, asked the president to help them seek justice for Kian.
“Siyempre masakit ‘di ba? Masakit samin na sumuporta tapos ang anak ko naging biktima pa,” Saldy said referring to the government's war on drugs.