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On Kian’s death anniversary, Cardinal Tagle appeals for merciful society

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA—As family, friends and rights advocates commemorate the first death anniversary of Kian Delos Santos, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle also paid tribute to the teenager who was killed amid the government&#x27;s campaign against illegal drugs. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/08/15/18/remember-kian-kin-friends-pay-tribute-to-slain-teen-on-death-anniversary">READ: Remember Kian: Kin, friends pay tribute to slain teen on death anniversary</a></li></ul>In his homily on Friday for the novena mass of the feast of Saint Pius X in Paco Manila, Tagle recalled how Delos Santos pleaded for his life in the final moments before he was slain.&quot;Ngayon po ang unang anibersaryo ng pagkapatay du&#x27;n sa batang si Kian na pinatay sa Kalookan na nagmamakaawa. &#x27;Tama na po, may test pa ako bukas.&#x27; Kapag nawalan ng awa, ang buhay ng kapwa, wawaldasin,&quot; Tagle said. [Today is the first death anniversary of Kian, who was killed in Caloocan while pleading for his life. &#x27;Please stop, I have a test tomorrow.&#x27; Once mercy is gone, life is easily wasted.]The prelate reiterated the Catholic Church&#x27;s stance that even those who break the law should be given a chance for rehabilitation. &quot;Sabihin na na merong pagkakamali, wala na bang awa para sa nagkamali? At saan tayo makakakita ng tao na hindi nagkamali kahit minsan? Ano&#x27;ng gagawin natin? Bawat nagkakamali sasaktan? Walang matitira sa atin dito,&quot; the archbishop added. [Let&#x27;s say he was at fault, was there really no mercy for those who were at fault? And where can we see a person who never committed mistakes? Are we going to hurt everyone who will commit mistakes? No one will be left!] Tagle also warned that a merciless society is a hopeless society. &quot;Nasa atin ang mamili: gusto ba natin ng may pag-asa o tayo’y mamuhay sa kadiliman na hanggang d’yan nalang tayo at ang nagkakamali walang lugar sa mundong ito? At kapag &#x27;yun ang prinsipyo natin, walang lugar para kahit kanino,&quot; the cardinal said. [It&#x27;s up to us to choose: do we aspire for hope or do we want to live in darkness where those who commit mistakes are shunned? If that is the principle that we want, then there&#x27;s no place here for anyone.]Police had tagged Delos Santos, a 17-year-old student at a Catholic school, as an alleged drug courier for his father and uncle. The teenager was shot dead by policemen after allegedly resisting arrest in Caloocan before dawn of August 16, 2017.Surveillance footage, however, showed 2 of 3 policemen involved in the operation dragging a man matching the description of Delos Santos to an alley where he was later found dead. Witnesses also claimed the Grade 12 student was told to run and given a gun.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/18/a-year-after-slay-kians-case-still-hangs-in-court">READ: A year after slay, Kian&#x27;s case still hangs in court</a></li></ul>The officers later admitted at a Senate inquiry that they only learned of Delos Santos&#x27; alleged drug links a day after they shot him dead.The 3 policemen only recently started presenting evidence for their defense before a Caloocan court, PAO chief Persida Acosta told radio DZMM.