MANILA, Philippines – Kian Loyd delos Santos didn’t die in vain because his demise had roused Filipinos to seek justice for him through protest-actions, legislative inquiry, and the filing of murder and torture charges against the policemen being blamed for his death.
And that’s why Kian’s father, Saldy delos Santos, thinks his son is now smiling in heaven.
“Masaya naman siya palagay ko eh, kasi hindi siya ililibing ng walang hustisya [I think he’s happy because he would not be buried without justice],” Saldy told reporters on Friday after he and his wife Lorenzana filed a complaint against Caloocan City Police Station 7 Chief Inspector Amor Cerillo, PO3 Arnel Oares, PO1 Jerwin Cruz, and PO1 Jeremias Pereda.
Saldy is also thankful that while his son had already left him, supporters came and joined his family in pursuing justice for Kian.
“Masaya rin dahil sa inyo, hindi n’yo ako iniwan [I’m also happy because you didn’t leave me],” he said.
Saldy is hoping that the people will stick with him and his family until justice is served.
“‘Yon lang at masaya ako hindi n’yo ako iniwan, umusad ‘yong kaso. ‘Yo’n lang sana, hanggang sa huli samahan n’yo ako…[I’m happy because you didn’t leave me and now the case is progressing. I just hope that you will be with me until the end],” added Saldy.
Kian’s last wish was to have a bike
If Kian were still alive today, he would have already passed his exam and would be happy to know that his mother already bought him a bike, according to Saldy.
Saldy said that on August 15, a day before Kian was shot dead, he and his mother chatted online and he asked Lorenzana for a bike and promised that he would pass his exam.
“Sabi niya, Mama bili mo ako ng bike kasi ‘yong mga classmate niya may electric bike. Ang anak ko hiningi bike lang kasi alam naman niyang hirap ang Mama niya. Tapos ‘yon na lang ang huli kong hiling sa inyo at ipapasa ko ‘yong exam ko,” said Saldy.
[He told his mother to but him a bike because his classmates had electric bikes. My son only asked for an ordinary bike because he knew that it was hard for his mother to make both ends meet. He told his mother that it was his last wish to her and in exchange, he would pass his exam.]
“(N)ong hinuli siya ng pulis nagmamakaawa siya na uuwi na ako…kasi exam ko bukas hinahanap na ako ng Papa ko [When he was apprehended by the police, he was pleading to them to let him go home because he said it was his exam tomorrow and his Papa was already looking for him],” he added.
They still bought the bike for Kian. Saldy said he would hang the bike in their house to remind him of his son’s last wish.
“Pinilit naming bilhin, kaya lang idi-display ko na lang,” he said.
