The Making of a Book on Kian Delos Santos

by Kimberly dela Cruz

Si Kian, a storybook about Kian delos Santos, a 17-year-old student killed by policemen as part of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, is now in print.

The PCIJ Story Project was launched on August 16, 2017. That same night, 17-year old Kian Delos Santos was killed by policemen not far from his home in Caloocan City, in northern Manila. Two days later, I joined other journalists from the night shift — reporters and photographers who have been covering the war on drugs since last year — to visit Kian’s wake and interview his family and friends.

Kian’s mother Lorenza, a domestic helper in Saudi Arabia, flew back to Manila for her son’s wake. Photos by Kimberly dela Cruz.

I spoke to Lorenza Delos Santos, Kian’s mother, for the first time that night. Nanay Elsa, as everyone called her, was hoarse from talking to so many people who came to the wake. I told her that we didn’t need to talk right there and that I would come back so she could preserve her voice and strength for the days to come. “Even if I lose my voice, I’ll shout to the world that my son is innocent”, she said. I took notes.

The next day, as we took stock of Kian’s story, we decided that The PCIJ Story Project’s first foray into forms of new storytelling would be a children’s book about Kian. For the next three weeks, I worked with children’s book author Weng Cahiles and illustrator Aldy Aguirre on what would become Si Kian.

Most of the illustrations of Aldy Aguirre are based on actual images taken or acquired while doing research.

I spoke many times to Kian’s family and friends while doing research for the book. Nanay Elsa told me that because she was in Saudi Arabia working as domestic helper, she communicated with her son only through Facebook. She said she usually deleted her Facebook chats with Kian because they filled up her inbox. Thankfully, she managed to keep their last chat.

Nanay Elsa talking about her last conversation with her son on Facebook.

During that final conversation, Kian sent his mother a photo of his classmates riding on bicycles and told her he’s the only one among them who didn’t have a bike. So Nanay Elsa promised the teenager she would buy him a bike if he passed all his exams.

I also spoke with Criszza, Kian’s girlfriend of three months. She told me how much Kian missed his mother.

Criszza, Kian’s girlfriend talking about how much Kian missed his mother, Nanay Elsa.

For his wake and funeral, Kian wore a barong or dress shirt that had been bought from contributions from neighbors.

Reporting Kian’s life and death entailed more than 30 interviews with his family, friends, classmates and neighbors. They said that Kian was a playful yet shy teenager, the son of a hardworking family that who had been through rough times. Neighbors recalled that Kian would often sit in front of the family store, teasing passersby or asking the old lady a couple of houses away if she already had lunch. He was always willing to lend a hand or fetch spring rolls or rice for older neighbors.

Neighbors gathered outside Kian’s home, where the wake was held.

Kian’s friends from the neighborhood composed a song for him. They sang it in front of his casket during the wake.

Along with the CCTV footage, the interviews revealed what happened on the night of August 16, 2017: Kian came home from school, immediately took off his uniform, bought bread and fish balls for dinner. Then he talked to Manolo, one of his friends from whom he borrowed a pair of shoes, outside their house. He promised Manolo that he would return the shoes the next day.

Barangay 160 Caloocan, where Kian was born and killed.

In the CCTV footage taken in their neighborhood, Kian was dragged across the basketball court by the plainclothes policemen. He was led down narrow alleys and ended up dead in a dark corner next to a concrete wall that abutted the river. I talked to the bystanders who were also visible in the video and saw Kian being dragged away. They were very afraid and only spoke to us when we promised not to identify them by name.

Witnesses said that policemen found Kian in front of this store (top left) and dragged him through small alleys of the neighborhood, passing the basketball court (top, middle), where the CCTV was installed. The footage showed Kian being dragged by two policemen. Kian was found dead in a dark corner (bottom, left) next to a dwelling (bottom, right) that used to be a pigsty. Most residents who live nearby said they didn’t see anything, they only heard the gunshots. It was dark and they were afraid.

The police said Kian fired a .45 caliber gun at them and that they were only forced to fire back to avoid Kian’s “unlawful aggression.”

The incident report from Caloocan Police Station said that policemen were conducting Oplan Galugad when Kian fired a .45 caliber gun at them.

The CCTV footage shows otherwise.

GMA 7’s aired this story that showed the CCTV footage and forensic report.

Aldy Aguirre’s illustration was based on the CCTV footage.

In addition, the autopsy conducted by the Public Attorney’s Office concluded that Kian’s was an intentional killing. Two out of three gunshot wounds “were in a single line of fire may have been inflicted by one gunman located near the feet of victim while the latter was on the ground in prone position.” Kian was lying face down when he was shot. The third gunshot wound, the report added, “was sustained by the victim in Near-Contact Range in an almost Perpendicular Trajectory with the gunman possibly located in the left side of the body”.

Autopsy report from the Public Attorney’s Office who is handling Kian’s case against the police.

Kian had dreams. Lenard, his best friend in school told us that he and Kian wanted to enter the Police National Philippines Academy after they graduated from high school. Lenard regretted that neither of them would fulfill that dream: Lenard suffered from an injury and Kian is already dead.

Lenard talking about his time at the hospital after an unfortunate accident where he damaged his liver. Kian witnessed the accident and was the one who called the ambulance. He frequently visited Lenard at the hospital.

His classmates said Kian frequently talked about becoming a policeman. They recounted how adamant the teenager was about playing the role of a cop in the class’ video adaptation of the TV series, “Narcos.” Kian talked of rounding up all the bad guys involved in drugs in their neighborhood. He even participated in a class debate where he defended President Duterte’s war on drugs.

Kian’s school ID. There was a delay in school so when he was killed, they only found his Grade 11 school ID. This was given to the family during the wake.

His former homeroom adviser recounted to us how Kian would fool around in class, always sitting at the back row with his closest friends. Although not a star pupil, those who knew him in school praised Kian’s determination to graduate.

In every interview I conducted, including the ones with Weng Cahiles, the author of the book, we explained that we were doing a children’s book about Kian. We showed them the illustrator, Aldy Aguirre’s past work. We explained to them that we wanted to tell Kian’s story as a children’s book retelling of Kian’s story based on journalistic research and interviews. Krizzhia Delos Santos-Rosero, Kian’s older sister, said she would love a copy for her kids.

Most of our interviews didn’t make it to the book. For example, Kian’s friends from the neighborhood spoke of his passion for watching FlipTop Rap Battle videos. Kian’s classmates thought that he was just joking about his pet chickens but his family said they were real and the last one died in December. His girlfriend Criszza recounted to us how their dates went, usually at the 711 nearby or at home eating instant noodles. There were so many stories about him, and everyone remembered him fondly.

Maynard, one of Kian’s childhood friend, had fond memories of Kian.

Si Kian was first published online via Facebook and Instagram on September 5, 2017. Before we posted the story, I printed a draft for the Delos Santos family. I went back to their house to deliver it in person, hoping to get feedback. Nanay Elsa and Tatay Saldy were already in witness protection program, so I gave their copy to Kian’s grandmother and aunt. They said it gave them chills.

Nanay Elsa and Tatay Saldy with Lala, Kian’s youngest sister, during the mass before he was laid to rest in La Loma Cemetery last August 26, 2017.

Maynard silkscreen printing shirts that said “Justice for Kian” which mourners wore to the funeral. On the last photo, Lenard, Kian’s best friend, came back to the cemetery to say goodbye after the crowd left.

Publishing a children’s book was not an easy thing to do. The interviews took place over several days, mostly during Kian’s wake, which was packed with mourners and other media covering this story. The PCIJ Story Project was barely a week old when we embarked on this project. We are humbled that Kian’s friends and family trusted us with telling his story.

This story is not over. The Department of Justice is looking into a criminal complaint against the policemen involved in Kian’s murder. Witnesses and members of Kian’s family are currently under witness protection. And on the 40th day since Kian’s death, his family and neighbors gathered around his grave to remember him.

Kian’s friends and neighbors received a copy of the book on September 24, 2017, the 40th death since his death (top, left). Sixty-nine--year old Angeles Castillo (top, right) points to one of the illustrations in Si Kian, saying that it’s her house.

Kian’s parents and younger sister entered the witness protection program after the burial. This photo shows the Delos Santos family reunited at the cemetery to commemorate his death.

The printed copies of Si Kian are now being distributed for free to teachers, schools, and community outreach programs for educational purposes. Limited copies are also available in selected bookstores. Email storyproject@pcij.org for more info.