By JEL SANTOS & KATE LOUISE JAVIER
Over 1,000 people from all walks of life joined yesterday a four-hour funeral march that brought slain schoolboy Kian Loyd delos Santos to his final resting place, an “apartment-type” niche at La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City.
The mourners, mostly clad in white t-shirts with printed words “Justice for Kian!”, include some families of other minor victims of extra-judicial killings.
The funeral procession started from Sta. Quiteria Church around 10 a.m. and ended about 2 p.m. at the La Loma Cemetery.
Emely Soriano, mother of Angelito Soriano, 16, who was shot to death by unidentified men in December 2016, encouraged people to support their call to stop the bloody war on drugs.
“Magkaisa po tayo para matigil na ang mga patayan na nagaganap. Napakasakit po mawalan ng anak,” Soriano said.
Soriano said that just like Kian’s family, she also wants justice for her son.
“Gusto ko pong bigyan ng hustisya ang anak ko at malutas na ang kaso,” Soriano added.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old AJ, cousin of Kian, said that their family maximized their last moment with Kian before the interment.
According to AJ, Kian’s parent even granted the last wish of Kian on the last night of his wake.
“Binili po nila ng bike si Kian. Yun po kasi ang huli niyang hiling kay tita Lorenza bago siya mamatay,” AJ added.
The 17-year-old student died at the hands of policemen during an anti-illegal drugs operation in Libis Baesa, Caloocan City on the night of August 16.
The police claimed that Kian was a drug runner of alias “Neneng” and was killed after he allegedly resisted arrest.
Kian was not included in the drug watch-list of Barangay 160. A CCTV footage even showed that he was being mahandled by the policemen.
LUMUHA ANG LANGIT
“Hindi lang ang pamilya ninyo ang lumuha, kaninang madaling araw ay lumuha rin nang husto ang langit – tulad niyo ay lumuluha rin ang Diyos Ama.”
This was the message of Caloocan Diocese Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David to the grieving family of Kian during the funeral Mass at Sta. Quiteria Church.
During the Mass, the bishop mentioned the names of the innocent people under his diocese who were victimized by extrajudicial killings.
“Aling Lorenza at Mang Saldy, hindi ho kayo nag-iisa. Naririto rin ang mga ibang namatayan din ng anak. Inanyayahan po namin ang mga kaanak ng iba pang biktima ng pamamaslang dahil sa giyera sa droga,” he said.
“Ang mga may sakit ay ginagamot, hindi pinapatay. Kailan man ay hindi naging solusyon ang pagpatay,” the bishop reiterated.
SANA HUWAG MAULIT
Saldy delos Santos, 49, Kian’s father, said he is praying that the family of the cops who gunned down Kian will not suffer the same fate.
“Sana huwag mangyari sa pamilya nila ang ginawa nila sa anak ko para hindi nila maramdaman ang sakit ng mawalan ng anak,” Saldy said.
The grieving father of Kian said that he was a good son.
He recalled how Kian helped him sell school supplies at their house.
“Mula ala-sais ng umaga ay gumigising na po ang anak ko, nilalatag na niya ang paninda naming school supplies.
Nagtitinda sa harap ng tindahan namin kaya buong barangay ay kilala siya kung gaano siya kabait,” he recalled.
Saldy expressed gratitude to all the people who supported them, saying that without them the call for justice will not be that strong.
