Kian delos Santos, Carl Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman were three teenagers who were killed on August 16 to 18, 2017, during the course of the Philippine drug war.

On the evening of August 16, 2017, a 17-year-old Filipino student named Kian Loyd delos Santos was fatally shot by police officers conducting an anti-drug operation in Caloocan, Metro Manila.

[20] His mother, Lorenza, worked as a domestic helper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while his father, Saldy,[n 1] operated a sari-sari store that Kian minded from 5:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon every day before he went to school.

[24] On August 26, 2017, a Catholic funeral Mass for Delos Santos was held at 8 a.m. PST, at a parish in Santa Quiteria, Caloocan; it was attended by his family and friends, and hundreds of other people, including human rights advocates.

[28] At around 8:00 p.m. PST on August 16, 2017, officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP) led by PO3 Arnel Oares, were conducting a "one-time, big-time" anti-illegal drugs operation in Barangay 160, Caloocan where Delos Santos lived.

In a muddy and dark alley near his house, which was the site of the alleged encounter, Delos Santos was found in fetal position with gunshot wounds to his head.

He then drew his gun and "directly shot" towards the police, which prompted PO3 Arnel Oares to fire back in self-defense, killing Delos Santos.

[20] The barangay's CCTV footage of the incident shows that at 8:24 p.m., a young man believed to be Delos Santos was being dragged by two men in plainclothes towards the area where his corpse would be later found.

[4][20] Two witnesses who approached Dominic Almelor of ABS-CBN News claimed that Delos Santos was blindfolded by the two men and forced to hold a gun, fire it, and run.

[38][39][40] Earlier that same day, the Liberal Party Youth, with the support of other groups, also held a rally at Plaza Miranda in Manila, denouncing Delos Santos's killing.

[41][42][43] During a press briefing on August 18, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella called the shooting of Delos Santos an "isolated" incident, and added "[President Duterte] will defend the police in their carrying out of duties.

This deeply regrettable incident has triggered deep public sentiment, and challenges those in law enforcement to be wary of the reckless exercise of power and authority.

"[47][48] Also on the same day, the Department of Education released a statement saying it "strongly condemns" the killing of grade 11 student Kian Delos Santos and that while it acknowledged "efforts to battle illegal drugs," it maintained that "upholding the rule of law should not be compromised."

"[16][49] Also on August 19, during an emergency peace and order council meeting, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said "It seems hard to believe that a 17-year-old would shoot it out with three police officers" and added: "even if Kian were indeed a drug pusher, he shouldn't have been killed unless the cops were only defending themselves.

[51] During the Senate investigation, Hontiveros caught Duterte's justice secretary, Vitaliano Aguirre II, drafting fabricated charges against her through text messages during the hearings.

Aguirre's text messages instructed former Negros Oriental representative Jacinto Paras, a member of controversial group VACC, to "expedite" cases against Hontiveros, the lead investigator against the murderers of Kian delos Santos.

[54] Arrested senator Leila de Lima, a key figure against the Philippine Drug War, also condemned the murder of Kian delos Santos.

Senator Joel Villanueva called it the "breakdown of our humanity, with people cheering the killings of individuals who have not been proven guilty"[59] and added that "we cannot allow lawlessness in this country.

[61] In a statement, National Youth Commission chairperson Aiza Seguerra said: "We want to curb the drug menace; however, we are alarmed by the deaths and injury of minors in the process.

Kaya tayo naman, kapag ganito, tingin ko obligasyon natin ipahayag iyong ating pagkamuhi sa ganitong klaseng pangyayari (How many Kians have we had?

[21][65][66][67][68] Other politicians who visited the wake include Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and Antonio Trillanes, Kabataan Partylist representative Sarah Elago, Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan, and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Fellow Jesuit Father Jose Ramon Villarin, president of Ateneo de Manila University, also condemned the killing of Delos Santos.

Lasallian Brother Armin Luistro, former Secretary of Education, called for "a minute of silence every night at 8:24 p.m. to remember Kian Loyd delos Santos and all innocent victims of merciless deaths in our land.

"[73] Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, who is also the president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), ordered the churches in his archdiocese to ring their bells from 8:00 to 8:15 p.m. every night from August 22 to November 27 in honor of Delos Santos, and as "a call to stop approval of the killings.

"[n 2][74][75][76] PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa expressed regret over Delos Santos's death, saying he was "very sorry for what happened" but added that he would rather see his police officers alive than dead.

[79] When President Rodrigo Duterte saw the CCTV tape, he allegedly called Dela Rosa 'as fast as [he] can' and asked the PNP to jail the police officers involved in Kian's killing.

[85] Three Caloocan police officers, Arnel Oares, Jeremiah Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz were found guilty of murdering Delos Santos during a drug sting in 2017.

Caloocan Regional Trial Court Branch 125 Judge Rodolfo Azucena on November 29, 2018, sentenced the three to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in prison, without the possibility of parole.

[96] On January 19, 2018, in a 35-page resolution released to reporters, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Perez and Arquilita with two counts of murder after probable cause for the slay of the two teenagers was found.

[105] In another decision publicized on March 13, 2023, Navotas RTC Branch 287 convicted Perez of two counts of murder, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua without eligibility for parole.