MANILA, Dec. 22 -- The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the conviction of three police officers for the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in 2017.

In a 40-page decision made public on Monday, the SC's Second Division found police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder and sentenced them to up to 40 years in prison, and ordered them to pay the teen's family PHP275,000 in damages.

On the evening of Aug. 16, 2017, witnesses saw the officers stop and frisk delos Santos in Baesa, Caloocan City. After allegedly finding suspected drugs, the officers punched him as he cried and begged to be allowed to go home because he had an exam the next day.

The officers ...