One of the cops tagged in the killing of Kian Loyd delos Santos claimed Thursday it was not Kian who was seen in CCTV footage being dragged by two police officers before the shooting.

PO1 Jerwin Cruz told senators the person being dragged in the video is not the killed 11th grader but a police asset.

"Kami po 'yung dalawang nasa CCTV pero 'yung sinasabi pong si Kian e hindi po si Kian 'yun. 'Yun po ay aming asset. Alpha po namin yun," Cruz said, mentioning the cop he was with, PO1 Jeremias Pereda.

Cruz said the asset in fear of being dragged in the case has been in hiding since he and the other cops tagged in Delos Santos' death were put to restrictive custody.

Asked why they had to drag their asset on the street, Cruz said: "Kasi po, your honor, 'yung asset po namin, ayaw niyang masunog. Ayaw niya pong makilala doon na may kasama siyang pulis."

"Pinoprotektahan lang po niya ang sarili niya at 'yun ang sabi niya sa amin na i-cover siya, para di siya makilala na may kasama siyang pulis," he added.

PO1 Cruz and Pereda were further questioned about their asset but both said they could not remember the age or even the clothes the asset was wearing during the operation.

"Isa po siya sa nakakakilala sa aming hinahanap. May target po kami si alyas Negro na nasa warrant namin," Cruz added, stressing that Delos Santos was not their target.