The Supreme Court has affirmed the murder conviction of three police officers for the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in 2017.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, the SC Second Division found policemen Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder, citing treachery in the commission of the crime. The Court upheld the penalty of reclusion perpetua and ordered the officers to pay ₱275,000 in damages to Kian’s family.

The High Court ruled that evidence showed Kian was unarmed and helpless when he was shot multiple times, rejecting the officers’ claim that they were merely performing their duties. It stressed that the killing of a minor could never be justified as part of a lawful police operation.

While affirming the conviction, the SC modified the ruling by removing the phrase “without eligibility for parole,” noting that the circumstances did not warrant such a qualification.